RURAL FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND

EFFECTS ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN CROSS RIVER
STATE, NIGERIA

Subm itted By: Submitted To:

Biswajit Dushad (im b2022044)
Prof. Shashikant
Abhijeet Srivastava
Sir
(imb2022009)
 Abstrac
t
This study was designed to assess the effects of rural food production systems and practices
adopted by farmers on sustainable agriculture and environmental quality.
A sample of 256 respondents made up of registered farmers, and extension workers were used for
the study.
The findings of the study revealed that shifting cultivation and related fallow systems, which
have negative effects on sustainable food production and environmental quality, some
recommendations were made threatening the sustainability of the agricultural system.
 Introductio
n of most rural food production systems and
The key feature
practices is the destruction of soil vegetable lovers
Rural food production allows the soil to regain lost nutrients during
fallow periods, but with increasing population pressure

Several authors have identified some of these systems to include

shifting cult iv at ion, bush f allowing, nomadic herding
or past oralism, mixed farming/mixed agriculture, semi-
permanent or permanent cultivation, terrace cultivation, flood land
cultivation, and market gardening Destruction of vegetation increases
the level of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and
increases the threat of global warming.
 Purpos
e
T o ident if y r ural f ood pr oduct ion sy st ems adopt ed by f ar mer s in f ood
production

T o det ermine t he ef f ect s of rural f ood product ion sy st ems on sust ainabl e
agriculture and environmental quality
 Research
Questions
What are the rural food production system s adopted in
food production?
What are the effect of the Rural food production on sustainable
agriculture and environm ent quality
 Methodology

The study was carried out in the five local government areas of Cross River State of Nigeria
using descriptive survey research design.
T he populat ion f or t he st udy was 2272 made up of all t he 2240 regist ered f armers and 32
extension workers in the study area.
A stratified random sample of 10% of all registered farmers in each local government area was
used.
256 respondents were needed because of the relatively small size of the respondent
population. A structured questionnaire was used f o r data collection while the data generated
were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, and t-test statistics.
A four-point rating scale was used with four response options Strongly agree (SA), Agree
(A), Disagree (D), and Strongly disagree (SD) which were coded 4, 3, 2, and 1 respectively.
RESULT
S
13 out of 17 items
were recorded.
Ratings
ranging
from 2.53-3.29 which were
above the 2.50 cutoff
indicating agreement
While 4 items received
ranged between 1.72 & 2.244
which were below the 2.50
cutoff point indicating
disagreement
Mixed cropping and mixed farming were identified.

Practices such as clearing forests and bush burning are key features of bush fallowing that were practiced by
farmers in the area.

t – calculated values = 0.052 – 1.482 < t – tabulated value = 1.960 at 0.05 level of significance. Thus, null hypothesis is accepted.

However, item number 13 recovered t – calculated value = 2.010 > t – tabulated value. Thus, null hypothesis was rejected.
Columns 2-5 of table 2 shows
the results of the t-test
analysis of the mean response
of farmers and
workers on ext ension t he
rural food ef fion
product ect s of
sustainable agriculture on
env ironment al
qualit y . and
12 out of 15 items t-calculated
values between 0.983 – 0.142 < t-
tabulated value = 1.960 at 0.05
level of significance and 240
degree of freedom. Thus, related
.
null hypothesis is accepted .

3 items t-calculated
v a l u e 2.470, 2.221, and
2.114 > t- tabulated value that is
1.960 . Null hypothesis is
rejected.
The data in the table shows the effects of rural
food production systems including the
destruction of soil organic matter, the
destruction of vegetation which expose the
soil surface to wind and water as well as an
increase in the concentration of carbon (iv)
oxide in the atmosphere, thus increasing the
threat of global warming.
 Conclusio
n
On the basis of study , we can conclude that rural food production systems is
based on shifting cultivation practices adopted by major farmers which
degrade the production and have negative impact on environment because of
very short periods.

There is rapid depletion of soil water and air due to inappropriate farming
systems that did not give long fallow period for recovery of land. Thus resulted
in eutrophication of water, high nitrate levels in water, loss of biodiversity and
increase in carbon dioxide in atmosphere and also soil erosion.