Farmers’ Perceptions of Effect of Open-Grazing on Food Production in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State, Nigeria

This study investigated farmers’ perceptions of effect of open-grazing on food production in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State. It was necessitated by persistent shortage and rising prices of food stuff in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State. The shortage of food could be partially from Fulani-herdsmen and farmers clashes which have contributed to the loss of lives and properties, crop destruction and abandonment of farm settlement. The research objectives of the study were to determine farmers’ perceptions of effect of open-grazing on food production in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State and examine the strategies to tackle the problems of open-grazing on food production in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State. Survey research design was employed for the study. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire administered to 123 farmers drawn using purposive sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The results of study revealed among others that the farmers perceived the effect of open-grazing on food production to include: destruction of crops in the farmland by cattle, increase in soil erosion that adversely affect crops in the farmland, shortage of food due to low harvest of farm products, high cost of food items and decrease of soil organic matter that adversely affect crop production. It was concluded that open-grazing is destructive and have far reaching consequences on crop production in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Federal Government of Nigeria should establish modern cattle ranches in each state and lease to herdsmen for rearing their cattle