Soil Degradation Causes and Extent Economics: Farmer Perspective Analysis

Abstract

Soil is the most important of earth’s natural resources because it hosts both animate and inanimate beings. This study assessed farmer’s perception about the possible soil degrading causes and extent; identified the effectiveness-extent via farmers perception of soil degrading prevention and control practices applied in the study area. From the results, 9.2% of the respondents earn between 410001-590000, 8.3% earn in the range of 590001 to 770000 naira, 4.2% earn between 7700001-950000. 5.8% earn 
between 950001-1130000, 3.3% earn 1130001-1310000, 1.6% earns  between 1310001-1670000, 1.7% earn above 1670000 while 1.7% earn 50000. Likert scale rating showed the possible causes of soil degradation 
as rain (3.79), deforestation (3.29), slope of the farm (3.15), poor road construction (3.15), overgrazing (2.68) and population density (2.93). Thus, government should improve on extension services for effective 
dissemination of agricultural and soil degrading prevention and erosion control technologies.