EFFECTS OF OPEN GRAZING ON PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES OF ARABLE FARMERS IN NIGER STATE

The study examined the effects of open grazing on arable farmers in Niger State. Three Local Government Areas were purposively selected from the state, Bosso, Lavun and Wushishi Local government while three villages were randomly selected from the selected Local Government Areas. Multistage sampling technique was used was used to select sample size from the sample frame of each village in each Local government and a total of 154 respondents were used for the study. Frequency, percentage and weighted mean score were used for data analysis. Some findings of the study were: erosion caused by grazing animal (X =3.14), production costs (X =3.11), trampling of crops by livestock (X =3.07) and financial instability (X =3.02), were major arable farmer’s perception on open grazing in the area. Biodiversity and crop pollination (X =3.26) and introduction of pests and diseases to crop (X =3.170) were major effects of open grazing in the area. Extents of open grazing in the area were: grazing of cover crop planted for soil conservation (X =3.36), grazing on manual pasturelands adjacent to arable farmers (X =3.24), grazing activities extending into protected areas and forests (X =3.24) and livestock roaming freely without fences, leading to unregulated grazing patterns (X = 3.21). Majority of the respondents pointed out help from local leaders to avoid impact of open grazing (X =3.23), creation of routes for cattle rearing to prevent trespassing on farmland (X =3.11) avoid dry season cultivation of crops (X =3.40) and aids to the victim of herders-farmers conflict to reduce the tendency of reprisal attacks (X = 3.46) as coping strategies they use to prevent open grazing in the area. The study enumerated the need to include land management and conservation practices into agricultural extension program (ADP) so that their clientele(farmers) can be equipped and involved practically in conservation/management of land for improved agricultural output and better future. The result concludes that there is unfavorable arable farmers perception on open grazing activities in the study area which shows that farmers are concerned about soil compaction and erosion caused by grazing animals and the need for additional fencing and other protective measures increases production costs as the most farmers perception on open grazing activities. The result also concludes that, Aids to the victim of herders-farmers conflict to reduce the tendency of reprisal attacks and avoid dry season cultivation of crops were the most effective coping strategies to open grazing activities in the study area.