EFFECTS OF RICE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS ON PERCEIVED SOIL

DEGRADATION IN EKITI STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Productivity is generally defined as the level of production in relation to the

levels of resources used in a given period. These are the rates of

production flows compared to the rates of flow of resources, such as inputs

used for land production (Oyaide, 1994). Rice is an annual crop and one of

the most important staple food crops in Nigeria. In the commercial aspect,

cultivation is the most important cereal after wheat. It is widely consumed

and there is virtually no country in the world where it is not used in any

way (Omofonwan and Kadiri, 2007). In 2003, Africa produced around

15.08 million tons of paddy rice on 10.23 million hectares (FAO, 2000 and

2003), while Nigeria was the largest rice producer at the same time. in

West Africa, producing on average 3.2 million tons of paddy rice or 2.0

million tons. tons of ground rice (Daramola, 2005). West Africa accounts

for 70.4% (about 8.74 million hectares) of rice area in Africa. The main

contributing countries in this region are Nigeria (47.9%), Guinea (5.20%),

Ivory Coast (5%) and Mali (4%). East Africa accounts for 16.1% of the rice
area. The main contributing countries are Tanzania (6.0%) and

Madagascar (3.19%). The countries of central and southern Africa

represent approximately 7.5% of the rice area. The main contributors are

the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4.05%) and Mozambique, 1.8%

(Norman and Otoo, 2003). The demand for rice is increasing much faster in

Nigeria than in any other African country since the mid-1970s (FAO, 2001).

Although rice production has increased in Nigeria over the past two

decades, the country's production capacity is well below national needs.

Nigeria's inability to meet its rice consumption needs through local

production has resulted in high cash costs for importation (Fakayode,

2009). The explanation of the low agricultural yield of the SSA has been

the slow adoption and low use of agricultural technologies such as

inorganic fertilizers and improved seeds. As a result, the nation relies on

international markets to fill the supply and demand gap with a large

amount of foreign exchange due to the low productivity of local rice

production.

The main limitation for national rice production in Nigeria is related to the

misuse of resources, environmental and institutional factors. Rice producers

in Nigeria do not get the most out of the resources committed to their
companies, which leads to a decrease in food production per capita

(Okoruwa et al, 2006). Its production has also been mainly in the hands of

small farmers with limited resources that rely heavily on the use of

traditional technologies, resulting in low productivity. There has been a low

level of improved use of agricultural inputs among small farmers. This

could be due to the high cost of inputs, the diversion of subsidized

agricultural inputs, land degradation, annual burning of bushes that destroy

soil organic matter, land problems, lack of capital, neglect of the sector

agricultural, inadequate extension agents, market failures, insufficient

technical knowledge in the area of improved fertilizer and seed application,

among others. All this and more has resulted in low agricultural

productivity and agricultural income, which makes it increasingly difficult

for the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and meet the

first objective of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which was

eradicate extreme poverty. and hunger for 2015 (FEPSAN, 2012). Although

Nigeria is blessed with vast land and other adequate resources to produce

enough rice for its population, the low productivity of Nigeria's rice

producers has limited their rice sufficiency efforts.

Fakayode (2009) analyzed technical efficiency and factor productivity in

highland and lowland rice production systems in Kwara State, Nigeria,

while Mbam and Edeh (2011) conducted research on the determinants of

Agricultural productivity among small rice producers in the state of

Anambra. Therefore, there is a shortage of literature on the factors that

limit rice production in this study area, which is one of the largest rice

producing areas in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Therefore, this study

examines the factors that affect the productivity of rice producers, as well

as the challenges that limit rice production in the study area. Addressing at

least most of these challenges would be a step towards improving the

productivity of farmers in this area.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

Scientific techniques such as satellite remote sensing, ecological evaluation,

measurement of land ownership, economic analysis, expert opinion and

interviews (Reed and Dougill, 2002) have been used to identify, measure

and monitor soil degradation . However, science has its limits and cannot

always provide a diagnosis or precise solutions (Fairhead and Leach, 1995).

There is a growing need to integrate scientifically proven knowledge with

local farmers' knowledge about current indicators of land degradation to

develop appropriate options to improve land management (Barrios et al.,

2006). Gobbin et al., 2000, Mannaerts and Saavedra 2003, Pla 2003, Roose

2003). Studies have revealed a large-scale knowledge of land users who

use these indicators, for example, to estimate the extent and effect of soil

erosion on the potential for soil productivity (Okoba and Sterk, 2006). The

erosion indicators not only reflect changes in soil properties, but also

determine the current state of the severity of soil erosion and the potential

for crop production (Gameda and Dumaski, 2004). According to Barrera-

Bassols et al. (2009), the information needs on land use management

practices include: local and / or linguistic classification of the soil,

evaluation of soil fertility, soil and soil conservation measures, and water,

spatial distribution of soils in the fields, the recognition of soil erosion and

the evaluation of soil quality. The information is useful for agricultural

development projects on small and large farms, as it allows farmers to

obtain high production in a given land use.

Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the effects of rice production

systems on the perceived degradation of the soil in Ekiti State, as well as

land management strategies to control land degradation in Ekiti State.

1.3 Study objectives

The main objective of the study is to investigate the effects of Rice

Production systems on perceived soil degradation in Ekiti State.

The specific objectives of this study are to:

1. Examine the various rice production systems

2. Determine farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected

types of agricultural land uses in rice production.

3. Investigate farmers’ local environmental knowledge of land

degradation indicators.

4. Document farmers’ land management strategies and practices for soil

and water conservation in the production of rice.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What are the types of rice production systems?

2. What are farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected types

of agricultural land uses in rice production?

3. Do farmers’ have local environmental knowledge of land degradation

indicators?

4. What are the farmers’ land management strategies and practices for

soil and water conservation in rice production?

1.5 Significance of the study

It has been suggested that African semi-arid rangelands are trapped in

irreversible and uncontrollably worsening degradation (Barrow, 1991;

Drechsel, et al., 2001). This phenomenon is experienced in the study site

were land degradation is to the extreme being caused by deforestation,

loose soil, steep terrain and poor agricultural practices. Alternatively,

others argue that human-induced land degradation can stimulate the

innovation necessary to overcome resource scarcity and maintain

sustainable livelihoods (Zaal and Oostendorp, 2002).

It is clear that science has played a key role in providing large-scale

responses to land degradation throughout the last 30 years of global

discussions on the desertification problem (Corell, 1999). However,

Scientific knowledge has limitations and cannot always provide an accurate

diagnosis or solution (Fairhead and Leach, 1995; Thomas, et al., 1997), as

evidenced by the vastly different solutions to perceived degradation that

national and intergovernmental agencies have attempted over the last

three decades. Top-down applications of scientific knowledge rarely

integrate different components of land degradation, focusing instead on

single issues, which can lead to bias and prevent an appreciation of the

multifaceted nature of the problem. Local communities who are affected by

land degradation rarely participate in science-led approaches, or derive

results that can improve the sustainability of their land management.

There is, therefore, a need to involve local knowledge on land use change

among smallholder rice producers and management so that communities

are able to fully realize their capacity to adapt to the challenges of land

degradation (Reed, et al., 2006). The rationale for this study emanates

from this recognition, and therefore seeks to incorporate the land use

suitability and land management strategies to control land degradation.

1.7 Scope of the study

The study only considers smallholder rice producers as most affected by

land degradation leading to change on land use, planning and

management in Ekiti state.

1.8 Organization of Study

The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one deals with the study’s

introduction and gives a background to the study. Chapter two reviews

related and relevant literature. The chapter three gives the research

methodology while the chapter four gives the study’s analysis and

interpretation of data. The study concludes with chapter five which deals

on the summary, conclusion and recommendation.