Analysis of Agroforestry Practices in the Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone: A Case Study of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the nature of agroforestry practices in the FCT, as an alternative to the conventional cropping systems. This is done not only as an alternative to the provision of food, but also as a strategy towards enhancing environmental stability. Furthermore, the study aimed at providing data on the practice of agroforestry in the territory and therefore highlighted the extent of agroforestry in the territory, the ownership and management of agroforestry practices, the temporal and spatial variations in the practice of agroforestry, as well as the socio-economic benefits derived from agroforestry, by individuals and communities at large. Data collection was done through reconnaissance survey, field observations and measurement as well as questionnaire-based interviews of 600 farmers. Data were also collected through personal interviews with rural community members, and extension workers. Furthermore, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was also adopted to augment data already collected. Secondary data was also derived from different sources and utilized for the study. In the analysis of data, different methods of data summaries were utilized and in addition, simple proportions and the chi-square test were applied in the verification of the hypotheses. The study found that, more than seven out of every ten farmers were engaged in agroforestry; the agroforestry farmers were largely the indigenous populations, low income earners, of a low literate level, largely males and characterized by large family sizes; and agroforestry practices were largely the scattered tree farming(random mix), although some alley cropping and agro-silvo-pastoralism were also present. The major agroforestry practice thus consisted of three components. These were made of twelve crop types, ten tree types, and local varieties of five animal types. The study also showed that ownership of agroforestry farms was tied to the land tenure system, which was largely communal. Agroforestry farms were managed largely by the farmers , with some support from the Abuja Agricultural Development Programme (AADP), in the form of supply of farm inputs, and provision of extension services. Finally, the study found that some benefits derived from agroforestry has resulted in improvement in soil fertility, increased agricultural productivity and accordingly, intake by the family and general improvement of the study area.