BUSH BURNING AND ITS IMPLICATION ON AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE
ABSTRACT
This project traced the causes of
bush burning and the extent of the destruction of life and properties in Akoko North
West Local Government Ondo
State.
A questionnaire containing fourteen
items constitute the main instrument for the collection of data.
A total eighty farmers were
eventually conducted on their farms, which was visited by the researcher.
The results showed the following:
that the major causes of bush fire in the local government include:
a)
Indiscriminate
setting of fire on bushes for the purpose of cultivation or hunting.
b)
Throwing
of lighted cigarettes on the ground.
c)
Intentional
setting of fire on neighbours farm because of personal animosity.
The extent of fire outbreak in each
case have been very devastating.
At the end of the work suggestion and
recommendations are also made.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents
List of tables and figures
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the study
1.2 Statement
of Problem
1.3 Objective
of the study
1.4 Relevance
of the study
1.5 Research
Question
1.6 The
study Area
1.7 Definition
of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0
REVIEW
OF RELATED LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1
Research
Design
3.2
Population
and sample
3.3
Instrumentation
3.4
Data
collection
3.5
Data
analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DISCUSSION
AND RESULTS
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Summary
of Finding
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Area
for future research
5.4 Recommendations
APPENDIX
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Bush burning has become a rampant
problem in the life of Nigerian farmers as a whole and Akoko North West
Local Government
Ondo State
area in particular. However, the case
under investigations is a pointer to the damage done and to find out the extent
of damages done to farm products and other properties. For sometime, no effort has been made to
determine or quantity the extent of the bush fires and damages done to life and
properties.
Furthermore, the study is purely
concerned with bush fires in the study area, possible causes of this hazardous
phenomena to the local farmers and to suggest possible remedies to the problems
created.
1.1
Background to the study
Bush fire can be describe as the
process whereby forests or grasslands are being set on fire especially for
agricultural purposes.
Bush fire is as aid as man. It has being in existence over millions of
years ago during the early man. The
ancient men stroke two stones to make fire and at the end of their cooking left
over bunches of fire and occasionally causing fire.
Moreover, the primitive stages
agricultural practices, peasant farmers after they might have cleared their
farm sites would set fire on the dried refuses.
This process is known as “slash and burnt system” and it is usually
adopted in t he southern part of Nigeria where they practiced bush
fallow system of Agriculture.
Attention was not quickly directed to
bush fire not until recently when bush ablaze is seen as dangerous to men and
the society in general.
1.2
Statement of Problem
The most serious ecological problem
faced by the inhabitants of Akoko North West is that of bush burning. This has become a menance in the town over a
long period of time. The extent of
damages done by bush fire in recent years is enormous.
However it has been noted that the
threatening scale of bush fire in the study area resulted in the following.
1)
Massive
burning of large extent of farm
2)
Burning
of buildings and valuable documents
3)
Destroyed
of life and properties
4)
The
local government spending huge amount of money enlightenment programmes on bush
burning.
1.3
Objective of the study
In general, this study is designed to
assess the damage done by bush fires to life and property and make suggestions
to prevent the practice in our society.
Specifically, the objectives of the
study are to:
a)
Trace
the causes of bush fire in Akoko North West Local Government Area.
b)
Determine
the extent of damage to life and properties in the study area.
c)
And
suggest possible remedies to prevent the menance of bush burning.
1.4
Relevance of the study
The project is designed purposely to
examine fire disaster in Akoko North West local Government area, causes and
effects with a view to making suggestions to prevent frequent occurrences. In recent years, fire disaster has caused a
lot of damage to life and property.
Despite all the decrees and edicts made
by the state government against bush burning, it seems all their effort have in
meaning.
1.5
Research Question
The research will attempt to discuss
the following
1)
What
are the causes of bush fire.
2)
What
are the implication of bush burning on various crops and properties.
3)
What
are the various effect of bush burning on soil nutrient.
4)
What
are the effort being made by government to stop bush burning.
1.6
The study Area
The study area covers the whole of
Akoko North West local government area of Ondo State. The area lies between longitude 5O10,
and 5O30, North of the equator.
It covers an area of approximately 765,000 square kilometers.
Its boundaries: Akure to the South,
Ikaram Akoko to the West and Ajowa to the North Eastern part of the study
area. The area is characterized by the
tropical wet and dry climate. This
climates reflects the result of the inter-play between the rain bearing North
wet moon soon winds and the North
West trade winds analogous to the a parent movement
with the sun. the West season is between
March and October with a short spell in August.
The dry season started from November till early March. These are the period when bush burning is
rampant.
