CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study
Productivity is generally defined as the level of production in relation to the levels of resources used in a given period. These are the rates of production flows compared to the rates of flow of resources, such as inputs used for land production (Oyaide, 1994). Rice is an annual crop and one of the most important staple food crops in Nigeria. In the commercial aspect, cultivation is the most important cereal after wheat. It is widely consumed and there is virtually no country in the world where it is not used in any way (Omofonwan and Kadiri, 2007). In 2003, Africa produced around 15.08 million tons of paddy rice on 10.23 million hectares (FAO, 2000 and 2003), while Nigeria was the largest rice producer at the same time. in West Africa, producing on average 3.2 million tons of paddy rice or 2.0 million tons. tons of ground rice (Daramola, 2005). West Africa accounts for 70.4% (about 8.74 million hectares) of rice area in Africa. The main contributing countries in this region are Nigeria (47.9%), Guinea (5.20%), Ivory Coast (5%) and Mali (4%). East Africa accounts for 16.1% of the rice area. The main contributing countries are Tanzania (6.0%) and Madagascar (3.19%). The countries of central and southern Africa represent approximately 7.5% of the rice area. The main contributors are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4.05%) and Mozambique, 1.8% (Norman and Otoo, 2003). The demand for rice is increasing much faster in Nigeria than in any other African country since the mid-1970s (FAO, 2001).
Although rice production has increased in Nigeria over the past two decades, the country’s production capacity is well below national needs. Nigeria’s inability to meet its rice consumption needs through local production has resulted in high cash costs for importation (Fakayode, 2009). The explanation of the low agricultural yield of the SSA has been the slow adoption and low use of agricultural technologies such as inorganic fertilizers and improved seeds. As a result, the nation relies on international markets to fill the supply and demand gap with a large amount of foreign exchange due to the low productivity of local rice production.
The main limitation for national rice production in Nigeria is related to the misuse of resources, environmental and institutional factors. Rice producers in Nigeria do not get the most out of the resources committed to their companies, which leads to a decrease in food production per capita (Okoruwa et al, 2006). Its production has also been mainly in the hands of small farmers with limited resources that rely heavily on the use of traditional technologies, resulting in low productivity. There has been a low level of improved use of agricultural inputs among small farmers. This could be due to the high cost of inputs, the diversion of subsidized agricultural inputs, land degradation, annual burning of bushes that destroy soil organic matter, land problems, lack of capital, neglect of the sector agricultural, inadequate extension agents, market failures, insufficient technical knowledge in the area of improved fertilizer and seed application, among others. All this and more has resulted in low agricultural productivity and agricultural income, which makes it increasingly difficult for the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and meet the first objective of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which was eradicate extreme poverty. and hunger for 2015 (FEPSAN, 2012). Although Nigeria is blessed with vast land and other adequate resources to produce enough rice for its population, the low productivity of Nigeria’s rice producers has limited their rice sufficiency efforts.
Fakayode (2009) analyzed technical efficiency and factor productivity in highland and lowland rice production systems in Kwara State, Nigeria, while Mbam and Edeh (2011) conducted research on the determinants of Agricultural productivity among small rice producers in the state of Anambra. Therefore, there is a shortage of literature on the factors that limit rice production in this study area, which is one of the largest rice producing areas in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Therefore, this study examines the factors that affect the productivity of rice producers, as well as the challenges that limit rice production in the study area. Addressing at least most of these challenges would be a step towards improving the productivity of farmers in this area.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
Scientific techniques such as satellite remote sensing, ecological evaluation, measurement of land ownership, economic analysis, expert opinion and interviews (Reed and Dougill, 2002) have been used to identify, measure and monitor soil degradation . However, science has its limits and cannot always provide a diagnosis or precise solutions (Fairhead and Leach, 1995).
There is a growing need to integrate scientifically proven knowledge with local farmers’ knowledge about current indicators of land degradation to develop appropriate options to improve land management (Barrios et al., 2006). Gobbin et al., 2000, Mannaerts and Saavedra 2003, Pla 2003, Roose 2003). Studies have revealed a large-scale knowledge of land users who use these indicators, for example, to estimate the extent and effect of soil erosion on the potential for soil productivity (Okoba and Sterk, 2006). The erosion indicators not only reflect changes in soil properties, but also determine the current state of the severity of soil erosion and the potential for crop production (Gameda and Dumaski, 2004). According to Barrera-Bassols et al. (2009), the information needs on land use management practices include: local and / or linguistic classification of the soil, evaluation of soil fertility, soil and soil conservation measures, and water, spatial distribution of soils in the fields, the recognition of soil erosion and the evaluation of soil quality. The information is useful for agricultural development projects on small and large farms, as it allows farmers to obtain high production in a given land use.
Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the effects of rice production systems on the perceived degradation of the soil in Ekiti State, as well as land management strategies to control land degradation in Ekiti State.

1.3 Study objectives
The main objective of the study is to investigate the effects of Rice Production systems on perceived soil degradation in Ekiti State.
The specific objectives of this study are to:
1. Examine the various rice production systems
2. Determine farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected types of agricultural land uses in rice production.
3. Investigate farmers’ local environmental knowledge of land degradation indicators.
4. Document farmers’ land management strategies and practices for soil and water conservation in the production of rice.

1.4 Research Questions
1. What are the types of rice production systems?
2. What are farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected types of agricultural land uses in rice production?
3. Do farmers’ have local environmental knowledge of land degradation indicators?
4. What are the farmers’ land management strategies and practices for soil and water conservation in rice production?

1.5 Significance of the study

It has been suggested that African semi-arid rangelands are trapped in irreversible and uncontrollably worsening degradation (Barrow, 1991; Drechsel, et al., 2001). This phenomenon is experienced in the study site were land degradation is to the extreme being caused by deforestation, loose soil, steep terrain and poor agricultural practices. Alternatively, others argue that human-induced land degradation can stimulate the innovation necessary to overcome resource scarcity and maintain sustainable livelihoods (Zaal and Oostendorp, 2002).
It is clear that science has played a key role in providing large-scale responses to land degradation throughout the last 30 years of global discussions on the desertification problem (Corell, 1999). However, Scientific knowledge has limitations and cannot always provide an accurate diagnosis or solution (Fairhead and Leach, 1995; Thomas, et al., 1997), as evidenced by the vastly different solutions to perceived degradation that national and intergovernmental agencies have attempted over the last three decades. Top-down applications of scientific knowledge rarely integrate different components of land degradation, focusing instead on single issues, which can lead to bias and prevent an appreciation of the multifaceted nature of the problem. Local communities who are affected by land degradation rarely participate in science-led approaches, or derive results that can improve the sustainability of their land management.
There is, therefore, a need to involve local knowledge on land use change among smallholder rice producers and management so that communities are able to fully realize their capacity to adapt to the challenges of land degradation (Reed, et al., 2006). The rationale for this study emanates from this recognition, and therefore seeks to incorporate the land use suitability and land management strategies to control land degradation.

1.7 Scope of the study
The study only considers smallholder rice producers as most affected by land degradation leading to change on land use, planning and management in Ekiti state.

1.8 Organization of Study
The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one deals with the study’s introduction and gives a background to the study. Chapter two reviews related and relevant literature. The chapter three gives the research methodology while the chapter four gives the study’s analysis and interpretation of data. The study concludes with chapter five which deals on the summary, conclusion and recommendation.