Land Degradation and Its Impacts on Technical Efficiency of Maize-Based Farms in Oyo State, Nigeria
[1]
Egbetokun Olugbenga Aderemi, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo, Moor Plantation, P.M.B 5029, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
[2]
Omonona Bolarin Titus, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
[3]
Ademola Sayo Adedeji, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Enough evidence abounds on the persistent weakness of the Nigeria’s natural resources base to support increasing food demand of the growing population. It has also been revealed that the expenditure on food in Nigeria accounts for a substantial proportion of the total household’s expenditure and with a persistent stagnation in agricultural production sequel to the problem of land degradation. The physical impact of land degradation is reflected in irreversible loss of productive land through erosion; declining soil fertility resulting in reduced crop production; and deforestation resulting in decreased supply of wood. Primary data was collected with the aid of a carefully designed and well-structured questionnaire. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of the respondents. A total of 125 questionnaire was used for the analysis. The issue of food insecurity is of great concern to food policy makers in the country. Therefore, this study is most applicable to current Nigeria’s goal of sustainable economic development, because it unveils the issues of environmental degradation as it is related to the declining food production in the country.
Degradation, Productivity, Efficiency, Elasticities, Maize-Based Farms And Oyo State
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