Impact of Human Activities on Agricultural Practices in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria.

This research aimed to assess the impact of anthropogenic practices on agricultural activities in specific regions of the Bwari area council, including Igu, Mpape, Bwari, and Bazango Kubwa. To gather relevant information for the study, a structured questionnaire was administered to farmers and households within the study area. Additionally, Landsat Images from 1988, 2008, and 2018 were analyzed to identify anthropogenic practices, such as deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization, and mining, occurring in the region. The analysis of land cover changes in Igu, Mpape, Bwari, and Bazango Kubwa revealed a significant reduction in vegetation area over the years.

The study found that agricultural lands in Kubwa experienced a decrease from 16.9614 Km2 (43.39%) to 14.2263 Km2 (36.41%) and 12.4209 (Km2) (31.78%). Similarly, in Bwari, agricultural land decreased from 24.5988 Km2 (45.96%) to 18.9612 Km2 (35.45%) and 6.327 (Km2) (11.83%). In Igu, the decrease was from 75.3138 Km2 (58.79%) to 57.4758 Km2 (44.91%) and 47.1006 (Km2) (36.77%), while in Mpape, it reduced from 31.2831 km2 (57.96%) to 24.9831 km2 (46.3%) and 18.1692 Km2 (33.66%). The conversion of land cover had a direct impact on agricultural practices in the study area, resulting in the loss of soil nutrients, increased soil erosion, hindered plant growth, and soil salinity. As a consequence of anthropogenic practices, farmers faced challenges with low agricultural yields, including land conversion from cultivation to grazing, urbanization, infrastructural construction, and erosion by running water.

In response to these challenges, various strategies have been proposed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of land cover changes on agricultural activities. These include implementing training programs to promote proper anthropogenic practices, increasing the area and enhancing the management of protected areas. The research recommends regulating anthropogenic practices near agricultural lands through effective policies to control and restrict activities such as mining and deforestation, which pose hazardous effects on the well-being of the population and their properties. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need for awareness programs to educate people about proper anthropogenic practices and the risks associated with improper practices.

Impact of Human Activities on Agricultural Practices in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria.