ABSTRACT

Agriculture and land are quite inseparable Land is an important resource and a factor of production to the extent that without land there can be no agricultural growth or development. Land crisis is a phenomenon which in recent years has brought about an unprecedented problem and hardship to many inhabitants of Idah Local Government Area (L.G.A.) and indeed Nigeria as a whole. The topic "Agricultural Land Crisis in Nigeria: A Case Study of Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State" is an investigative research which seeks to identify and describe the evolution and factors responsible for land crisis in Idah L.G.A. and assess its effect on agricultural land use and productivity in the area. The tools of analysis used in this study were simple descriptive statistics, capitalization techniques and regression analysis to determine relationship between and among variables. A total sample of 150 respondents - farmers, leaders and educated persons from Akpanya, Idah, Iyano, Odeke and Uchuchu were interviewed with structured questionnaires to obtain information. The courts were also visited with copies of questionnaire to obtain information on their role in settlement or otherwise of land dispute matters. The information collected were analysed using the tools of analysis specified. The t-values and F-statistic values are significant at 5 per cent level of significance. The study noted that land is being made artificially) scarce due to crisis over land which in some cases have resulted in disputes, violent clashes, abandonment of cultivable or agricultural land and destruction of lives and property. Factors identified in the study to be responsible for land crisis include: (a) selfishness and greed (b) craze for material wealth and pride and (c) civilization and/or awareness. Population factor has no empirical evidence to show its effect on land use. There exists however, speculative evidence and this has given rise to speculation in land by the people. Furthermore, nominal land rent has not been found to be statistically significant. However, the economic land rent has been found to be of statistical significance. Also, the Land Use Act of 1978 seems to constitute a core problem in the current agitation. Given the scope and complexity of land and agricultural development, one cannot attempt to cover the whole field. The author has therefore focused on land as a basis for agricultural development. It is hoped that this study will provide the basis for policy that would safeguard the interest of the people in the rural areas. Also, the study will indicate areas where further research would be needed for the transformation of agriculture from its present poverty position or state to a much more modernized agriculture which alone can move the nation to an enviable position both in political and economic sphere. It is observed that self-sufficiency and selfreliance in food production is still the basis for political and economic stability of a nation. This can only be achieved when the utilization of land and its resources can be maximized. Under land crisis, the attainment of this goal may never materialize in any society.