ABSTRACT

The major objective of this study was to evaluate the Economics of soil conservation farming techniques in Abia State, Nigeria. Six ADP Extension Blocks were randomly selected from Ohafia and Umuahia zones, purposely selected for a detailed study. From the blocks, a random sample of 120 farmers was selected and semi-structured interview were conducted with these farmers. Data sought includes information relating to adoption of physical soil conservation techniques and agronomical measures, known but not used, determinants of farmland value, socio-economic and physical factors affecting adoption, cost of conservation crops and! associated costs and returns from these crops. The data collected were analysed with descriptive statistics, costs and returns model, hedonic and adoption regression models. Data analysis showed that about half of the farmers used mounds while the two next highest techniques used were ridge/mound and flat/minimum tillage, following ridge and beds methods. Also it was found that farmyard manure was less in use than cover cropping method composting and alley cropping methods. The costs and returns analysis on the predominant techniques used, showed lflOun(15 been profitable than ridging/mounds and flat/minimum tillage. But going by net return for person-day of labour, the three techniques are profitable. 1-lowever, the results of the hedonic regression of soil quality on the value of farmland revealed that farm size and presence of soil humus are positively and significantly related to value of farmland at I and 5 percent probability levels while soil wittiness and location of farmland was negatively and significantly related to value of farmland at 5 percent probability levels, in contrast however, no relationship was found to exist between value and such factors as population clarity and percentage of cropland. The multiple regression on adoption showed that erosion potential, education, farm size and labour availability were positively and significantly related to the number of soil conservation techniques used by farmers while farmer's age was negatively but significantly related to number of soil conservation techniques used. No significant relationship was found between number of soil conservation techniques used and percentage of cropland. Appropriate suggestions were made to accelerate the use of better soil conservation measures to ease farmlands about or already subjected to severe erosion, and other related issues.