AGRICULTURAL LANDUSE IN SUB-URBAN LAFIA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The main aim of this paper is to highlight the current landuse for Agriculture in the area and the specific objectives were to identify different category of landuses. The geo-referenced Google earth image of the area was digitized (on-screen) using ArcGIS 9.3 version. GPS (Germin 76csx model) was used for the data collection in the field the during the ground truthing. The GIS analysis shows that the total area (sub-urban Lafia) covering 234.43km2 within the 15Km radius. The analysis for the categories of landuse shows that uncultivated area 14.98km2 Built-up area 14.12km2, Natural Vegetation 64.64km2 and Agricultural/Cultivated area 140.69km2. 95 copies of questionnaires were administered to the respondents in the area. The result revealed that about 40% for Agriculture, commercial with 32.63%, manufacturing with 13.68% and 10.53% respectively, while mining with 3.16%. The distribution of different landuses along the selected roads shows that Jos road’s main activity is mining due to the availability of raw material and quarry sites located in the area. Makurdi road’s main activities include Agriculture 26.7% and Commercial 33%. Doma road also partakes in manufacturing and artisanal with 7.1% and 50% of respondents engaged respectively. The respondents’ age by their landuse activities shows that 66.7%, 0%, 26.7%, 6.7%, and 0% for agricultural, commercial, mining, manufacturing, artisanal and services respectively. The age between 18-35years are having more Agricultural lands than the ages between 51-65%.While males having more lands than the females with 42 and 36% for Agriculture while the females engaged in Commercials with about 45.5 and 25.8% respectively. It also shows that income earn base on landuse activities, Agriculture having 50% while mining having least paid. The paper concludes that Agriculture occupying more land followed by Undisturbed land/Vegetation and there is need for proper database collection of the lands for feature planning.