LAND AND ITS USES

LAND

Land is man’s natural endowment (the gift of nature). It is the solid part of earth’s surface (the soil and its mineral resources) where production like farming and livestock management takes place.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LAND

1. It is fixed in supply, and its value rises steadily in response to increasing demand for it.
2. The supply of land is limited and cannot be easily increased.
3. Land is mobile, i.e. cannot be moved from a place of plenty to a place of scarcity.

USES OF LAND

Land use is subdivided into agricultural and non-agricultural uses.

AGRICULTURAL USES OF LAND

1. Crop Production: – Land is used for the production of food crops such as yam, cassava, rice, etc and cash crops such as cocoa, kola nut, coffee, etc.
2. Grazing: – Large areas of land set aside where there are abundant grasses for grazing by livestock are called pasture land.
3. Fishery: – It involves the area of land set aside for the production of fish through fish farming. It involves the establishment of fishponds where fish are reared artificially to provide a necessary source of protein and income for the people.
4. Forestry: – This involves the management of forest land and its resources to produce food and services that are valuable to man. It is established in areas where there is no great pressure for cultivation or where the land is too poor and not suitable for crop production. Economic trees are cultivated on forest land to provide raw materials for the wood and paper industries. Medicinal herbs, ropes, fibres, resins, etc, are also obtained from the forest.
5. Wildlife Conservation: – Wildlife refers to animals and birds found in the bush. Wildlife is conserved in game reserves.  The forest provides cover and food for a large number of wildlife. These animals and birds provide good recreation facilities and good centres of tourist attraction. Land not suitable for farming may be used for game reserves. They generate revenue to the government. Examples of game reserves and where they are located in Nigeria are
   • a. Kanji national park in Niger state
   • b. Borgu game reserve in Kwara state
   • c. Zurguma game reserve in Niger state
   • d. Yankari game reserve in Bauchi state.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. Outline four agricultural uses of land
2. Mention five game reserves and their locations in Nigeria.

NON-AGRICULTURAL USES OF LAND

1. Housing: This involves the use of land for the construction of residential houses and buildings
2. Industrial building: – For building industrial, individual estates.
3. Transport:- Land is used for the construction of many forms of roads,  railway lines, bridges, airports, etc.
4. Social-economic activities: – Stadia, amusement parks, markets, hospitals, cemeteries,s etc that are used for various socio-economic activities are constructed on land centres
5. Religious centres: – Construction of churches, mosques and shrines
6. Mining: – Land where minerals like petroleum, tin, coal, gold, etc, are found is used for mining purposes.

FACTORS AFFECTING LAND AVAILABILITY FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

1. Population pressure: – An Increase in population lowers the area of available land. Social life and life demands increase with population growth.
2. Land tenure system: – Leads to land fragmentation, which rarely gives enough land for an effective agricultural venture. The communal land tenure system leads to land deterioration.
3. Topography: – Land in mountainous and hilly areas with rocks is not suitable for agriculture. Steepness of the slope of the hill or mountain encourages rapid runoff and erosion. The depressed part of the land is easily waterlogged.
4. Soil type: – A land with predominantly sandy soil is not suitable for agriculture. A land that is mainly clay is difficult to till and heavy to work on.
5. Government laws: – Government laws on land use of Decree 1978 prevent individuals from owning land.
6. Environmental pollution and oil spillage: – This renders a land unsuitable for agriculture or cultivation.
7. Climatic factors: – Restrict the use of land for agricultural purposes. Rainfall is the major determinant of crops and animals. Areas with heavy rainfall favour tree crops, while areas with moderate rainfall favour food crops.
8. Cultural practices: – Cultural practices like bush burning, shifting cultivation, deforestation, etc, make land unsuitable for agriculture.
9. Socio-economic factors: – Use of land for residential buildings, markets, schools, roads, etc does make land available for agricultural use.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. Outline five non-agricultural uses of land
2. State five factors that can affect the availability of land for agricultural purposes.

 

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. What is land?
2. List three general characteristics of land.
3. Outline four uses of land for agricultural purposes.
4. State five game reserves in Nigeria.
5. Outline five non-agricultural uses of land.
6. List five socio-economic factors affecting land use.

 

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Which of the following is not a factor affecting land availability for agriculture in Nigeria? A.  rainfall B. topography C. soil type D. soil microorganisms
2. The climatic factors affecting land use for agriculture include the following, except A.  pest, B. rainfall, C. temperature, D. light
3. Which of the following farm practices does not hurt the soil? A. crop rotation B. land clearing C. overgrazing D. flooding
4. Agricultural lands should not be used for the establishment of A. game reserve, B. pastures, C. horticultural crops, D. arable crops
5. The use of land for agriculture is not influenced by A. Labour, B. Climate, C. topography,y D. population

 

THEORY

1. State three major uses of land for agricultural purposes
2. Outline five factors affecting land availability for agricultural purposes.

 

See also

AGRO-ALLIED IDUSTRIES

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Agriculture