Determinants of Farmers' Preference for Sustainable Land Management Practices for Maize and Cassava Production in Ogun State, Nigeria

In order to ensure agricultural sustainability, as highlighted in the millennium development goals, it has become necessary to focus policies on enhancing sustainable land management, especially in vulnerable areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Hence there is the need for this study which was designed to analyze the determinants of farmers’ adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices (SLMP) in the production of maize and cassava in Ogun State. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in this study. The data for study was collected from 338 farmers with the use of questionnaire. Information collected covered farmers’ socio-economic, institutional and farm level characteristics and specific SLMPs used. The SLMPs studied included Structural and Mechanical Erosion Control (SMEC), Agronomic Practices (AP), Cultivation Practices (CP) and Soil Management Practices (SMP). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the logit model. The farmers had an average of nine years of formal education, 54% participated in Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and 91% had access to extension education, 55% had land tenancy security 81% favoured the use of AP more than other SLMPs. About 47% of the farmers cultivated undulating farmlands which were vulnerable to degradation. Farmers’ level of education and their participation in CBOs positively influenced their adoption of the SLMPs. Overall results from this study show that the adoption of SLMPs can be enhanced by increasing farmers’ literacy level and encouraging them to participate more in community based organizations.