Factors Affecting Availability Of Land For Agricultural Purpose

1.   Population Pressure: Increase in human population has created alternative uses of land for public utilities such as school, road, sewage etc. which makes land expensive to acquire.
2.   Land Tenure System: Land ownership in Nigeria does not make land available for large scale production.

Farmers who want to engage in large scale production find it difficult to acquire enough land for that purpose because of land ownership system

3.   Soil type: The type of soil in an area determining whether that soil will be available for farming or not, if the said type is loamy or clay it will be suitable for farming but if it is sand it will not be suitable.

4.   Topography: The slope of the land also determine availability of land for agriculture as hilly, mountainous and other forms of highlands is not suitable for agriculture as erosion will wash away any crop planted on such land.

5.   Climate: The climate of an area determines whether the land is suitable for agriculture or not.
 
Rainfall is the major determinant of crop distribution as area with heavy rainfall encourage tree crops production while area with low moderate rainfall favours food crop production

6.   Cultural practices: Cultural practices such as bush burning, deforestation etc. does not make land suitable for agricultural purpose.
   

A. Agricultural use of land       
   
1. Arable farming.
 
2. Livestock production.

3. Games reserve.
   
4. National park.

5. Forest reserve.

6. Agro-based industry.
   
7. Construction of dam and fish pond.
   
8. Farm settlement.
   
9. Horticulture.



B. Non-agricultural use of  land.

1. Farming and quarrying.

2. Construction of residential building.

3. Construction of road and rail.

4. Construction of industries.

5. Construction of schools and hospital.

6. Construction of stadia.

7. Construction of airport and seaport.

Roles Of Non-Govermental Organizations In Agricultural Development

Non-governmental organizations play important roles in increasing agricultural production through research.

They go into research and come up with new discoveries which will be an improvement on whatever has been on ground, such discoveries include: new farming ideas, new varieties of crops, new breeds of animals, new ways of prevention and control of pests and disease of crops and animals.

Some of them major on single crop (a particular crop) while others research on two or three crops.

Some equally major on livestock.

Some of the organizations and their aims are as follow:-

1.   West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA): It was established in 1971 with the headquarters in cote d voire. Its aim is to increase rice production.

2.   International Institution For Tropical Agriculture (IITA): It was established in 1967 with the headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria and other sub-station in West Africa sub-region.

The objective is to research on crops such as rice, maize, cassava, cocoyam, cowpea, sweet potato and soyabeans.

3.   International Livestock Centre for Africa  (ILCA):  It was established in 1967 with headquarters at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

The aims to improve livestock production system in African region.

4.   International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD):  The headquarter is in Rome, Italy.

Its aim is to improve and increase food production and the living standard of people in rural area.

5.   International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics:  it is established in 1972 with headquarters in Hyderabad, India.

Some roles to be played by the government are listed Here