JOURNAL OF LIAONING TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
(NATURAL SCIENCE EDITION)
LIAONING GONGCHENG JISHU DAXUE XUEBAO (ZIRAN KEXUE BAN)
辽宁工程技术大学学报（自然科学版）
RIVER BASIN AND FADAMA CULTIVATION ALONG IKERE-EKITI SECTION OF RIVER OSUN IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA
Aladelokun, Adeniji Olawale
Abstract
Fadama farming along river Osun valley in Ikere-Ekiti is not relatively new, but has generated some environmental and socioeconomic consequences which now called for serious attention in the last few years.in spite of the channelization intervention scheme on a section of the river’s valley by the government. It was on this premium that has motivated the interest of this paper to investigate farming activities along the Ikere-Ekiti section of the river, examine the effectiveness of the Benni-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA) and to advance probable solutions to the attendant challenges especially on the fadama cultivation. Personal field inspection to the area was carried out, while observation, interview combined with administration of questionnaire were utilised to solicit relevant information. Simple descriptive statistical techniques were employed to analyse the data generated. Results reveal that less than 40 % of the farmers are of Ikere-Ekiti origin, operating on family lands; while more than 50% are tenant farmers mostly the Hausas and others from the northern part of the country. The river valley has two farming tracts – the fadama area where cropping is carried out during dry season (November- April) and the drier upland section of the valley which dried up fast immediately after the floods, owing to the elevation. Maize, okro, tomatoes, water melons and green leafy vegetables are the major crops grown on the fadama areas. It is a major source of income to the farmers and a great source of food supply to the inhabitants of the city as well as neighbouring settlements. However, the farming system is faced with the following challenges; destruction of crops by floods from early rains and domestic animals; lack of storage facilities for perishable crops; bad seedlings etc. Consequently, this paper advocates that the River Basin Authority should come to the aid of the farmers in the areas of flood control and construction of access road to remote parts of the valley, provision of fertilizer and material for better seedling, construction of dam for irrigation where possible, etc.
Keywords: River Basin, Fadama Cultivation, River Osun, Ikere-Ekiti.