2025/10/03 by akpenpuun, joyce, Dewua, Rhoda Ebi, Mpem, Terungwa +1
#Benue #Bush #farmers #livelihood #yields
paper · doi:10.82265/34jw-9660
Bush burning is the willful burning of farmland. In the savannah ecological zone of West Africa, Nigeria, and Benue state by extension, annual bush burning has become a concern. Numerous hectares of land are burned yearly, often without consideration for the advantages or long-term repercussions of how it would affect the soil's fertility. Changes occur as a result of soil heating, but how much do these changes impact the soil's ability to yield crops and, by implication, the farmers' ability to make a living is not known? In the light of this, this study examined how bushfires in Benue State affected farmers' crop yield and quality of life. The study is cross-sectional and descriptive. Respondents were chosen using a multi-stage sampling procedure, and data was gathered via questionnaire. At a pvalue of 0.05, descriptive and chi-square tests were employed to analyze the results. The study found that the respondents' primary occupation (40.5%) was agricultural work. The majority (94.6%) of the respondents had engaged in bush burning at one point in the course of their farming activities. The effects of bush burning range from destruction of soil structure and nutrients, pollution of the environment, erosion, decrease in income of farmers, decrease in quality and crop yield, destruction of household properties and agricultural produce. The study found a significant link between livelihood actions and bush fire (x2 = 35.60) (p≤0.000) and bush burning and the perceived effect of bush burning (x2 = 21.65) (p≤0.003). The nation's food security is therefore threatened by bush burning. Bush burning has a negative influence on the ecology, agricultural output, and public health. This study therefore, suggests that farmers be taught about eco-friendly farming practices and safer growing techniques that can boost resilience and sustainably increase productivity