ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in order to get an insight of the local people's account on land degradation and its management strategies in six local government areas of northern Katsina state. The study used qualitative research methodologies (Participatory Rural Appraisal, Focus Group Discussion and Questionnaire) and quantitative methods (field measurement and descriptive statistical analysis). It has been found that the local farmers classified soil in four broad classes and identified three process of soil degradation (wind erosion, water erosion and soil fertility decline) and different cause and indicators of soil degradation. They attributed soil degradation problems largely to anthropogenic factors but acknowledge the influence of natural forces in aggravating the problem. The study also reveals that farmer's /pastoralist' s account of vegetation changes indicated that species that decrease and disappeared were reported more than species that increased and the newly introduced. Different soil and water conservation measures were adopted by the local farmers to minimise the problem of land degradation, but majority prefer to use agronomic/biological conservation measures which they believed are more effective and less costly compared with the mechanical measw·es, though the farmers' adaptation strategies are saddled with a lot of ecological and socio-economic problems. It is argued that food production in the area could be increase if agricultural planners built mi, and complement local adaptation strategies with scientific knowledge