By Adejobi Abel Olutunde
The study focused on the assessment of poverty level and environmental
degradation among farmers in the central Agricultural Zone of Osun State.
Specifically the study sought for: (1) the extent of the manifestations of
environmental degradation in the agricultural zone; (2) the level of poverty
among farmers in the study area; (3) determination of the relationship between
environmental degradation and poverty level of the farmers; (4) other predisposing
factors to environmental degradation in the area; and (5) suggest ways
of reducing environmental degradation, so as to avert poverty in the study area.
The area of the study was the Central Agricultural Zone of Osun - State, which
was made up of 9 Local Government Areas. Survey research design was
employed for the study covering a target population of 1,220 registered farmers,
out of which a sample of 120 farmers was taken. Fifty two (52) items structured
questionnaire divided into five sections (A, B, C, D & E) was developed,
validated, tested for reliability and administered. Out of 150 copies given out, 120
copies were duly completed and returned mean and standard deviation was
used to answer the research questions while ANOVA was used to test
hypothesis 1, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient together with ttransformation
was used to test hypothesis 2 at .05 level of significance. The
findings of the study revealed that: environmental degradation manifested to
higher extent in the area, level of poverty among the farmers in the area was
equally high; there was a close association and significant relationship between
poverty and environmental degradation in the area. The study recommended
that: (i) faculties of education in universities and other institutions of higher
learning should incorporate Environmental Agriculture into their training
programme; (ii) officials of the ministries should use the findings in making
reform in secondary school Agricultural Science curriculum; and (iiiO State and
Local Governments can use the findings to organize radio talk, workshop and
seminars for their farmers.