Volume 2 | Issue 1 | Page 19-25 Ewemen Journal of Plant Genetics & Chemotaxonomy ISSN: 2488-9172

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Original Research

ANALYSIS OF THE CONSTRAINTS TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BAKORI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, STATE

1*LADAN S. I. and 2SULE I. I.

1Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina, . 2Makama V, Bakori District, Bakori Local Government Area,

ABSTRACT

Received 13 May, 2017 The Federal Government of Nigeria is shifting emphasis on developing the Revised on the 12 June, 2017 enormous potentials in agriculture as a viable option towards diversifying the Accepted 14 June, 2017 economy due to dwindling oil revenues. In many States of the Federation, Author’s Email: particularly those in the northern part conscious efforts are being made to [email protected] develop agriculture as source of food, income and employment generation. This paper analyses the constraints to agricultural development in Bakori Local Government Area located in the southern part of Katsina State. Data for the study were generated through direct observations and structured interview with the seasoned farmers in the sampled villages in the Local Government which include Bakori, Kakumi, Jargaba and Tsiga. The results showed several constraints such as, high cost of agrochemicals, low level of income of the farmers, poor storage facilities, changing rainfall patterns and fluctuations in market price of farm products among others as major challenges to agricultural development in the local government. A sustainable government intervention which include enhancement of Bakori dam irrigation project to augment rain fed agriculture practice is recommended to assist the farmers to overcome the challenges.

Keywords : Analysis; Constraints; Agricultural development; Bakori

INTRODUCTION

Agriculture in Nigeria is not well developed as first week of July 2016 (Usman et al., 2016). Hence, evident by subsistence level of production among the country now realizes the need to develop other farmers, large scale food import and the fact that the sectors of the economy as a way of diversifying the sector does not contribute significantly to Gross economic base of the nation to absorb shocks in the Domestic Product (GDP). The agricultural sector was price of crude oil in the international market. for four decades relegated to the background as a Scholars have further observe that the crude oil result of the huge revenues obtained from crude oil exploitation has over the years brought with it exports particularly in the 1970s during the oil disruptive consequences resulting in painful social boom. The recent slump in global oil prices from and environmental adjustments which can be over $100 to less than $40 per barrel has pushed the effectively countered by fully exploiting the huge national economy into recession beginning from the potentials inherent in agriculture which offers a

© 2017 Ewemen Resources Limited / EJPGC. All rights reserved Ewemen Journal of Plant Genetics & Chemotaxonomy 2017, 2(1):19-25 Ladan and Sule more sustainable and inclusive development (Ifo, Study Area 2016). It is in line with this, that the Federal Government of Nigeria is shifting emphasis on Bakori Local Government Area (LGA) was created on developing the enormous potentials in agriculture as 15th May 1989 out of land previously incorporated as a viable option towards diversifying the national part of LGA and on 21st September 1991. economy as a result of the dwindling oil revenues. In Danja LGA was curved out from Bakori LGA. The many States of the federation, particularly those in local government has its headquarters at Bakori the northern parts, conscious efforts are being made town with the entire Bakori LGA presently covering to develop agriculture as source of food, income, and an area of 679 km2 (262 sq miles) and population of employment generation to cushion the effects of the 149,371 based on the 2006 population census economic recession on the States and the country at (Lawal, 2015). Bakori LGA is located approximately large. between latitudes 11°55’30’’N – 12°43’0’’N and longitudes 7°30’0’’E – 7°43’30”E (Figure 1). The LGA Agriculture in Katsina State contributes to food shares boundaries to the north with LGA, to production and security, employment generation, the north east with , to the southeast raw materials production and consequently the GDP with Kafur LGA, to the south with Danja and Funtua of the State and the country as a whole (Ifo, 2016). LGAs and to the west by LGA. Agriculture is the backbone of the State’s economy as 75% of the people are full or part time farmers. Katsina State is blessed with abundant agricultural land and wide range of crops which include millet, guinea corn, maize, wheat, rice, potatoes, Irish potatoes, beans, cassava, cotton, groundnuts and different types of vegetables, are grown. In addition to the farming of crops, the State possesses a large livestock population mainly made up cattle, goats and sheep which are reared in the Sudan savanna vegetation zone of the State. Fishing activities are carried out along rivers and on small, medium and large scale dams such as Zobe Dam, Dam, Sabke

Dam, Daberam Dam, Ajiwa Dam, Mairuwa Dam and many others. In terms of forestry, there are both public and private forests in different parts of the State that include forest reserves, plantations, woodlots, orchards shelter belts and trees on farmlands. Rumah/Kukar Jangarai Forest Reserve in the north western part of the State in , and Danmusa local government areas in the largest forest reserve in Katsina State (Alo et al., 1998). Figure 1: Map of the Study area Bakori LGA However, despite the potentials of the State in crop farming, cattle rearing, fishing and forestry, Bakori LGA is made up of two districts namely Bakori agricultural development is constraint by several and Tsiga, each is headed by a district head. challenges leading to poor yield and farmers’ Makaman Katsina is the district head of Bakori,who frustration. This paper aims at analyzing the was recently turbaned as Sarkin Adon Sarkin Katsina constraints to agricultural development in Bakori and that of Tsiga is headed by Jarman Katsina. The Local Government Katsina State with particular LGA has the following major settlements – Bakori, emphasis on crop production. The specific objectives Kakumi, Kabomo, Guga, Jargaba, Tsiga, Tamarke, of the study were to examine agriculture and Kwantakwaram etc (Figure 1). The LGA consists of agricultural development in Bakori local government twenty one village areas, eleven of which are in area (LGA), and identify and analyze the constraints Bakori district and ten are in Tsiga district. The to agricultural productivity in the LGA with the goal inhabitants of the LGA are mainly Hausa/ Fulani of offering recommendations towards overcoming Muslims and a number of followers of traditional the constraints to agricultural development in the religion called Maguzawa (Animist Hausas) who are LGA. found in few villages around Tsiga village (Magaji, 2015). The occupation of the people is mainly www.ewemen.com | 20

Ewemen Journal of Plant Genetics & Chemotaxonomy 2017, 2(1):19-25 Ladan and Sule farming both rain-fed crop cultivation and irrigation of agricultural production in the LGA using both farming at Bakori dam site and at river side and irrigation and rain fed farming. flooded lands (Fadamas), others engage in cattle rearing, fishing and trading activities. Bakori town as Method a large grains market known as Kasuwar sama where agricultural crop commodities were supplied by Data for the study were collected through field visit peasant and large scale farmers from the LGA and is to the local government include Bakori, Kabomo, patronized by traders from different parts of Katsina Kakumi, Guga, Jargaba and Tsiga. These areas State and other parts of the country (Mahmud, represent three villages each from both Bakori and 2014). Tsiga districts that constitutes the LGA. A structured questionnaire was used to generate data for the In terms of physical setting, the climate is tropical study (See Appendix). In all the six villages, two focus continental type with two distinct seasons, dry and groups consisting of five farmers each were formed wet seasons. The dry season last for some eight to respond to the questionnaire. This give ten (10) months and the wet or rainy season last for some respondents from each village to give the total four months (Adefila, 2014). The mean annual number of sixty (60) from the six villages rainfall for the LGA is between 889 – 1061 mm with respondents used for the study. The questions the rain falling mostly between May – September of answered by the focus groups were on the supply of every year. The dry seasons starts by October to agro-chemicals (fertilizer and pesticides), receiving April of the year with cold, dry and dusty local winds any form of financial assistance, changes in rainfall blowing from the Sahara desert known as Hamattan pattern, storage of farm products, prices for the sale winds by the months of December – February. of farm products at the market and suggestions Temperature is high for most of the year with a mean towards overcoming constraints to agricultural maximum of about 33.33°C and a mean minimum of production in the LGA (See Appendix). The about 22.2°C (Alo et al., 1998). questionnaire was administered with the help of a research assistant who is appointed by the co-author The vegetation is Sudan savanna type with trees of who is the District Head of Bakori. average height, shrubs and grasses. The tree species include Azadirachta indica, Acacia nilotica, Adansonia Direct observations on the constraints were made digitata, Anogeissus leicarpus, Parkia biglobosa. There during field visit to Bakori dam site where crops are various shrubs covering the land in parts of the were produced by irrigation, garden where LGA, with no trees. The vegetation is found along vegetables (e.g tomatoes) were planted, farmlands roads, on farmlands and at homes. In order to were crop residues and organic manure were further improve the vegetation tree seedlings were deposited and irrigation sites along river banks. The planted and protected to grow in several parts of the data collected from the above primary sources were LGA. The soils are fine sandy loam, which are complemented with data from secondary sources relatively easy to cultivate with little leaching hence which include published articles, textbooks, it is generally good for the cultivation of grains, conference / economic summit paper and cereals and cash crops such as ground nut and cotton environmental action plans, as well as internet (Adefila, 2014). sourced materials. These data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

MATERIALS AND METHOD RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Materials Socio-Economic Characteristics of Respondents A map of Bakori LGA was sourced from Katsina State Ministry of Environment which was drawn at the The socio-economic characteristics (Table 1) of Cartography Unit of Department of Geography respondents that formed the focus groups in the six Umaru Musa Yaradua University Katsina, Katsina villages sampled for the study indicate that in term of State. This map was used to identify the settlements gender, all (100%) of the respondents were males sampled for the study in Bakori LGA. A fine pix AX50 based on the tradition in the study area which makes Fuji digital Camera with optical lens zoom 5X14 males head of households and responsible for mega fixel was used to snap two pictures of providing food for the family. The average age of the evidences of agricultural production at Bakori dam respondents was 45 years suggesting that middle- site during field visit which were incorporated into age persons were in charge of farming in the area. the study which further prove the continuous nature www.ewemen.com | 21

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Table 1: Socio-economic characteristics of the capacity is 1.12 cubic meters and its area of land respondents. utilization is 40 hectares (Abdulrahman and Zango, 2015). Other uses of the dam besides irrigation were Characteristics Frequency Percentage (%) fishing activities and supplying water for livestock. Educational Qualification The condition of the dam which is owned by Katsina No. Formal Education 24 40 State Government was good, but silted and in need of Primary School Education 12 20 de-silting as it is not deep enough to contain large Secondary School Education 12 20 Tertiary Level Education 12 20 volume of water. Figure 2 show farmers thrashing wheat and a tomatoes farm at the dam site. Marital Status Unmarried - - Married 60 100

Number of Children Two – Four Children 18 30 Four – Six Children 12 20 Seven – Nine Children 18 30 Over Ten Children 12 20

Occupational Status Rain-fed farming 30 50 Irrigation Farming 12 20 Both rain-fed and Irrigation 18 30 Farming Source: Field survey (2017).

In terms of educational qualification, forty percent Figure 2: Farmers working on cultivated wheat at the (40%) of respondents had no formal education but Bakori dam site. had Islamic Education (Table 1). The percentage of respondents with primary, secondary and tertiary education was 20% each. The marital status of the respondents indicates that all (100%) were married, with one, two or three wives. The number of children born into the families was what differs as 30% had two to three children, 20% had four to six children, 30% had seven to nine children and 20% had over ten children. The occupational status of the respondents showed that 30% of the respondents engaged in rain-fed farming during the rainy season, while 20% were engaged in irrigation farming using water supply from the Bakori Dam and River Jare. Thirty percent (30%) practiced in both rain-fed and irrigation farming.

Agricultural Development in Bakori LGA Figure 3: Tomatoes farmland at the Bakori dam site Field survey revealed that the most common crops cultivated include guinea corn, maize, millet, rice, Constraints to Agricultural Production in Bakori wheat, beans, soya beans, groundnut, cocoa yam, Local Government Area sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, cotton and vegetables There were several constraints to agricultural which indeed confirmed that the inhabitants were production particularly crop cultivation based on the indeed agrarian. Majority of the crops were focus group discussions held with the farmers. cultivated using rain-fed agriculture during the rainy season. Other crops such as wheat and vegetables High cost of agrochemicals: One of the major like tomatoes, pepper, lettuce and onions were constraints that affect a very large percentage of the produced using irrigation water obtained from the farmers (80%) in the LGA was the high cost of Bakori dam and the Jare River. The type of irrigation agrochemicals particularly fertilizers and pesticides. observed during field surveys was surface lift used The fertilizer was sold for N7,500 (USD $20.83) per mainly for the production of the crops listed above. bag which was too high considering that an average The Bakori dam is located in Bakori town, its www.ewemen.com | 22

Ewemen Journal of Plant Genetics & Chemotaxonomy 2017, 2(1):19-25 Ladan and Sule farmer may need up to four bags for his farmland result to incidence of food poisoning. The 40% of the and also considering that the State government farmers who were not affected by this challenge subsidized fertilizer was sold for N 2,500(USD $5.55) were farmers that cultivate crops that were not per bag. The subsidized fertilizers were also not perishable or easily affected by pests such as guinea readily available and inadequate as four farmers corn, rice and wheat. were allocated one bag only. Pesticides were also costly as a litre of pesticides used in tomatoes farm Changing rainfall pattern: Changing rainfall pattern was sold at N 2,000 (USD $5.55), and a farmer need was a constraint that affects 80% of the farmers who five to six liters to effectively spray on the crops. The practice rain-fed agriculture who were the majority remaining twenty per cent (20%) of the farmers that in the LGA. According to the focus groups rainy were not facing this challenge were the influential season which used to starts by middle of April now people like the District Head and his council member, starts at middle of May. In the year 2014 it was the Local Government Chairman and his council reported that farmers in the LGA experience an members plus rich individuals with the financial unusual situation where there was shortage of capacity to purchase the fertilizer even at its high rainfall in the months of July and August which rate or had access to special allocation of the affected the growth pattern of rain-fed crops such as government subsidized fertilizer. maize and rice (Ladan, 2014). In 2015, shortage of rainfall during the rainy season affected cotton in Low level of income of the farmers: Another major Kakumi village and during the 2016 rainy season, the constraint affecting eighty percent (80%) of the crop affected was beans (Table 2). The 20% of the farmers was the low level of income of the farmers. farmers that are not affected by the changing rainfall According to a tomatoes and cabbage farmer at the pattern are farmers that practice only irrigation Bakori dam site, farmers use their own meager farming. income to buy farm inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides and seeds. The irrigation farmers at the Table 2: Effects of changing rainfall pattern on some crops dam site pays N2,500 (USD $6.94) per year for water in Bakori LGA use to the State Government. The remaining 20% S/N Name of Crop Effect on the crop were farmers with high income level to buy settlement affected agricultural inputs and those that were able to obtain 1. Bakori Maize Crop started drying which loans or credit facilities. According to the focus affect yield groups at Tsiga, the West African Cotton Textile 2. Kwantakwaram Rice Crop started drying which affects yield Limited (WACOT) based at Funtua used to give loans 3. Kakumi Cotton Low yield of the crop to cotton and maize farmers for many years up to the recorded by farmers year 2014 when the company stopped given the 4. Kabomo Beans Low seed yield of the loans. The company is expected to resume the beans disbursement of the loan later in the year 2017. Also Source: Ladan (2014) and Field survey (2017) rice farmers who practice rain-fed farming revealed Poor pricing of produce: A large percentage of that despite their application for financial assistance, farmers (70%) did not sell their farm products at no funding support had been released to them. reasonable prices to make profit. One of the reasons

for this was because some crops were perishable and Poor storage facilities: Poor storage facilities was a must be sold within few days before decay. For major constraint that affects 60% of the farmers example a 100 kg basket full of tomatoes was sold at involved in the production of certain crops such as N2,500 – N3,500 (USD $6.94- $9.72) which was vegetables, beans, maize etc. Bakori LGA produces unprofitable for the farmers. In the case of cereal large quantity of tomatoes during both rainy and dry crops like wheat, one bag was sold at N20,000 (USD season farming. Many farmers had to sell tomatoes $55.55) in March 2017 with the farmers making little at cheap rates or dry the tomatoes in the sun as a profit. The same produce would be sold for N 30,000 means of preservation which is not hygienic. In the – N 40,000 (USD $8.33-USD $111.11) during the case of Irish potatoes, once it is harvested it had to be period of scarcity and high demand in sold within few days to avoid spoilage. In Tsiga August/September 2017 which could result in high district local methods were used for the profit for the farmers. However, most farmers preservation/storage of some crops such as maize cannot wait up to the period of scarcity and high and beans. Locally made insecticide (called fia-fia) demand as he has to sell the wheat to satisfy his was mixed with water for the storage of maize while immediate needs. Only 30% of the farmers sell their rat poison was used for the preservation/storage of crops at reasonable prices. For example maize beans. These methods can be dangerous as they can farmers now get reasonable price for their crops www.ewemen.com | 23

Ewemen Journal of Plant Genetics & Chemotaxonomy 2017, 2(1):19-25 Ladan and Sule which in 2015 one bag sold for N7, 500(USD $20.88) farmers to adapt to changing rainfall pattern. Bakori and in 2016 it sold for N12,000 (USD $33.33) for new dam should be de-silted to enable it store larger maize and N15,000 (USD $41.66) for old maize. volume of water for irrigation purposes.

Shortage of water and aridity: Shortage of water and aridity was another constraint to agricultural CONFLICT OF INTEREST development in Bakori LGA particularly during the dry season which affects 20% of the farmers that None declared. engages in irrigation farming. The Bakori dam itself experiences serious drop in water level and during REFERENCES the field visit it was observed that the dam water had reduced considerably making the dam to resemble a 1. Abdulrahman IR and Zango BM (2015). Assessment of the pond. Irrigation along the Jare river bank was agricultural potentials of dams in Katsina State, Nigeria. An becoming difficult as farmers from both Bakori and assessment report submitted to governor Masari for action. Tsiga districts had to dig deep to reach the water 2. Adefila JO (2014).Pattern of Agricultural Development in Southern Parts of Katsina State, Nigeria: Notion for Rational table to collect water. At Tsiga village, irrigation Planning. IOSR J Agric Vet Sci 7(1): 14 – 20. farmers along the river have to ration water among 3. Alo BT, Olowokudejo JD, Fakiyesi T, Omojola D, Soneye AS, themselves as a way of coping with the shortage of Osho YB and Ayoola B (1998). Katsina State environmental water. It was in a bid to tackle this constraint that action plan – Final report. Babsal and Co. Ikeja, Lagos. 4. Ibrahim T (2017). Agriculture and the restoration agenda in the Senator representing Funtua Senatorial Zone Katsina State. Available at: where Bakori LGA belongs constructed 30 boreholes www.dailytrust.com/ng/news/columns//agriculture for water supply across the LGA. Furthermore, the [Accessed 02.03.2017]. Federal Government of Nigeria had awarded contract 5. Ifo BM (2016). Unleashing Katsina State agricultural for the construction of an earth dam on River Jare at development through value chain financing. A paper presented at Katsina State economic and investment summit. Unguwar Kanawa village as an effective way to 9th-12th May, 2016. considerably reduce the constraint of water supply 6. Ladan SI (2014). An Appraisal of Climate Change and to agricultural production. Agriculture in Nigeria. J Geog Reg Plan 7(9): 176-184. 7. Lawal A (2015). Impact Assessment of Rural Development Projects in Danja and Bakori Local Government Areas of Katsina State. A Published MSc. Public Administration Thesis CONCLUSION Submitted to Department of Public Administration, ABU Zaria. Available at: The present administration in Katsina State had set www.kubanni.abu.edu.ng.8080/...IMPACT% [Accessed up the restoration agenda for the agricultural sector 02.03.2017]. with the objectives of making land available to poor 8. Magaji I (2015). Bakori: A historical perspective. Government printing press Katsina. Katsina State. pp.8. farmers, establishing an organic fertilizer plant, 9. Mamuda IK (2014).Economic Potentials of Bakori Grain expanding the production of leguminous crops and Market Available at: www.dailytrust.com.ng/.../21887-the- development of greenhouse vegetable production [Accessed 01.02.2017]. (Ibrahim, 2017). These initiatives which are 10. Usman OL, Idowu PA, Gbolagade KA and Alaba OB (2016). commendable could succeed if they are vigorously Beyond crude: Implementation of Nuero-Fuzzy Model for efficient weather prediction in agro-based economy. pursued to achieve the set objectives. The thirty Proceedings of 10th International Conference on applications four LGAs of the State have vast potentials for the of information and communication technologies to teaching, cultivation of different types of food and cash crop research and administration. Obafemi Owolowo University particularly those in the southern part like Bakori. Ile-ife.

Bakori LGA has huge potentials for agricultural development which can only be harnessed with the assistance of the State government, private Article’s citation companies and international development agencies. Adequate fertilizer should be provided to farmers at Ladan SI and Sule II (2017). Analysis of the subsidized rate, and farmers should be assisted with constraints to agricultural development in bakori loans and credits. Storage facilities should also be local government area, katsina state. Ew J Plant Genet provided at subsidized rates, assistance given to Chemotaxon 2(1): 19-25.

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Appendix - Questionnaire

This Questionnaire is designed to collect data for a research study on “the Constraints to Agricultural Production in Bakori Local Government Area Katsina State”. Kindly answer the questions below.

1. Do you receive adequate supply of Agro-chemicals such as fertilizer and pesticides? ......

2. Do you receive any form of Financial assistance in form of loans or credit from the Government, financial institution or NGO ? ......

3. What facility do you use towards the storage of your farm produce that are easily perishable (such as vegetables, beans, maize etc) ...... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Do you as a farmer observe or experience any changes in the rainfall pattern which affects your crop production? ......

5. Do you get reasonable price for the sale of your farm products at the market ? ......

6. Do you experience any shortage of water or aridity during the dry season ...... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. What would you suggest towards overcoming the constraints outline above? ......

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