Seasonal availability of farmland and its contribution in wildbirds-landuse conflicts in Hadejia-Nguru wetlands, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper studied the seasonal availability of land for farming and its contributory effect on wildlife-landuse conflict in Hadejia-Nguru wetlands, Nigeria. Research was undertaken in two separate villages in the wetlands –Matara Uku and Lafiya. The villages were selected on the basis of a number of criteria including general location within the wetlands, type of natural environment as well as the proximity to river or major channel. The main aim was to choose two villages which had some differences but which would still allow some comparisons, as well as contrasts to be made. Proportional representation of household heads HHs was done using a modified “1 in k” sampling procedure, as recommended for social research in wildlife. Although, all respondents (farmers) that were sampled at the study site cultivated in both seasons, however reduced (almost halved) hectares of land were generally cultivated in the dry season at Lafiya and a little less hectares cultivated in rainy season at Matara Uku. Statistical test indicates significant difference (p<0.05) between total hectares cultivated between Matara Uku and Lafiya in dry season. Decline in hectares cultivated in the communities were traced to excessive flooding in rainy season at Matara Uku and shortage of water availability (drought) in dry season at Lafiya. Farmers responded to the drought (Lafiya) and flooding (Matara Uku) by occupying reserved grazing land and river shoreline. Cumulative means percentage of 73.8% farmers were cultivating either on river banks / reserved grazing land or at their boundaries in ≤1km away from their boundaries. The wetlands’ wildlife that naturally occupied the shorelines is threatened by various unfavourable farmers practices and impressions. Recommendations were made based on the outcome of the study.