Causes and effects of land degradation on crop production in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Nigeria

Land degradation has remained one of the most serious problems currently affecting crop production in Illela Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State, Nigeria. This study analysed the causes and effects of land degradation on crop production and techniques for the restoration of degraded land in the area. Data for the study were obtained using a structured questionnaire from 113 randomly selected farmers using a two-stage sampling procedure. Data were analysed using mean, frequency counts and percentages. The results showed that desertification (39.7%), deforestation (28.4%) and erosion (14.3%) were the major causes of land degradation in the study area. An increase in cost of production (15.0%), a decrease in market turnover (15.0%) and decrease in farm income decrease in farm income (14.1%) were the major effects of land degradation on the farmers in the area. The farmers used a variety of strategies such as the use of cover crops (95.6%), ridging of farms (93.85) and use of organic manure (85.0%) for the reclamation of their degraded farmlands. It was concluded that desertification, deforestation and erosion were the major causes of land degradation in the study area, which had several devastating effects on the farmers particularly an increase in the cost of production, a decrease in farm income and food shortage. It is therefore recommended that farmers should sustain the temperature by using cover crops, ridging and organic manure to reclaim their degraded farmlands. All stakeholders in agricultural and rural development should complement the efforts of the farmers in reclaiming their degraded farmlands through interventions and empowerment.