Perceived effects of water erosion on farming activities in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria
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Abstract
The study was carried out to assess the perceived effects of water erosion on farming activities in Calabar metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. The major causes of water erosion, types of water erosion and their effects were assessed. Strategies used for controlling water erosion in the study area were also identified. The study was carried out in Calabar metropolis which comprises Calabar South and Calabar municipality
Local Government Areas. The population of the study comprised of only the community members residing in erosion affected areas as such purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of eighty (80) farmers. Data were collected with the aid of a set of structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results from the findings showed that respondents varied widely in their socio-economic characteristics; 55.0% were females, an average proportion (51.3%) were married, 53.8%
had tertiary education, 46.3% had monthly income of less than N20,000, 48.8% had household sizes of between 1 and 5. Result further revealed that 42.5% of the farmers practiced trading as a major occupation followed by 23.8% who engaged in farming as their major occupation. The study also revealed that the causes of water erosion were: prolonged or heavy rainfall, poor road construction and deforestation with mean scores of 3.67, 3.42 and 3.18, respectively and gully erosion was the major type. The main effects of erosion were shortage of farmland and removal of top soil with mean scores of 3.83 and 3.55, respectively. To control water erosion, strategies such as afforestation, avoidance of clean clearing, use of cover cropping should be adopted. The study recommended that drainage channels should be constructed and
afforestation encouraged in these areas.
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