EFFECT OF ANTHROPOGENIC PRACTICES ON AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN PARTS OF BWARI AREA COUNCIL ABUJA, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate effects of anthropogenic practices on agricultural activities in parts of Bwari area council (Igu, Mpape, Bwari and Bazango Kubwa). In order to obtain the pertinent information needed for the study a structured questionnaire was administered to the farmers as well as households of the study area. The Landsat Images of 1988, 2008 and 2018 of the study area was analysed to show that there are anthropogenic practices going on in the study area among these are deforestation, overgrazing, urbanisation mining among others. The analysis of delineation of the land cover change in,Igu, Mpape, Bwari and Bazango Kubwa of the study area unveils that, there is drastic reduction in area of vegetation over the years. Agricultural land in Kubwa 16.9614 Km2 (43.39%), 14.2263Km2 (36.41%). 12.4209(Km2) (31.78%), in

Bwari form 24.5988Km2 (45.96%), 18.9612Km2 (35.45%), 6.327 (Km2) (11.83%) also

in Igu 75.3138Km2 (58.79%), 57.4758Km2 (44.91%), 47.1006(Km2) (36.77%) and finally in Mpape 31.2831km2 (57.96%), 24.9831km2 (46.3%) , 18.1692Km2 (33.66%) .

The degraded land cover has been proven that there is direct impact on the agricultural practices in the study area. It was discovered that land cover change has greatly contributed to the loss of soil nutrient, exposure of soil to erosion, impede plant growth, soil salinity. Low yield of agriculture becomes a threat for the farmers in the area as a result of anthropogenic practices; cultivated land to grazing, cultivated land to urban, cultivated land to infrastructural constructions as well as eroded cultivated land by running water. Numerous strategies are being put in place in order to mitigate and adapt effect of delineation of the land cover change on agricultural activities such as training programmes should be set in place to guide people on proper anthropogenic practice, Increasing the area and standard management of protected areas. The researcher here by recommend that anthropogenic practices within the vicinity of the agricultural land should be regulated, Policy should be put to control and restrict the various anthropogenic practices such as mining, deforestation, to prevent its hazardous effective on lives and properties of the people, and Enlightening programs should be organized on proper anthropogenic practices as well as risk involved in wrong practices.