Author: Othniel Mintang Yila
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Diss. no.RD-09-04
Year: 2009
Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)
Type: Thesis (Ph.D.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2009
Examination Committee: Gopal B. Thapa (Chairperson); Jayant Kumar Routray, Ganesh P. Shivakoti (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: The Jos Plateau makes up a major part of agricultural land in Nigeria. However, the Plateau has been experiencing declining soil fertility and severe soil erosion due to continuous cultivation and other factors. As a result, agricultural productivity has declined. The aim of this study was to understand the adoption of land management technologies among smallholder farmers in the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. With a view of drawing policy recommendations conducive to promoting land management technologies. Information was collected both from primary and secondary sources. Primary information was collected through a household survey of 150 households, institutional survey, observation, focused group discussions, key informants interview and reconnaissance survey. Secondary information was collected from relevant government offices, NGOs, books, journals, maps, and reports. Collected information was analyzed through qualitative and quantitative techniques including analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression Findings reveal that farmers have in depth, but informal and empirically derived knowledge about the status of their farmlands. It is clear from the study that farmers in the Jos Plateau have a well-defined and comprehensive set of indicators that they use to classify and assess the status and fertility of their soils. This is evident from the number, diversity and descriptive detail of the indicators identified in our study. Although farmers are often described as practicing short-term strategies and having only short term views regarding soil fertility, the study indicates that this is not the full story. Indeed, the number of indicators identified which were medium or long term in nature suggests that farmers do have a significant long-term perspective. This study found that in order to control or even to revert the adverse impa
Scholarship Donor(s): Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship
Note: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Regional and Rural Development Planning
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