Cassava and Vegetable Farming on Wet Land among Farmers in Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study reviewed cassava and vegetable farming activities on wetland among farmers in Ibaji LGA Kogi State. Wetland can be defined as lands subject to excessive wetness, to the extent that the wet conditions influence the possible land uses. The wet soils in Kogi State exhibit similar physical, chemical and biological characteristics as do most or all soils in wetland ecologies. The textural  composition of the wet soils in the study area varies widely from sand to clay loam with good physical properties. Data collected included information on farming season, social/infrastructures available in the area, major occupation of the people, major crop grown and others. Potentials of wetland soils include wetlands are seasonally or perennially wet and have ample water supply occur in level to gently sloping landscapes, are immune to the hazards of soil erosion. The soils are saturated 6 to 8 months of the year. Sources of information available to the farmers are through neighbours, friends and extension agents. Constraints to wetland land use are climatic (mainly rainfall), hydrological, soil, biological, and socio-economic factors. However, the major constraints to the cropping systems in the wet lowlands are abundance of water and its management, disease, pest and weed control. Wet land farming should be encouraged by all to reduce food insecurity in the study area. Stakeholders should encourage farmers by providing farming inputs all year round Key Words: Cassava, vegetable farming, wetland, farmers