ASSESSMENT OF URBAN LANDUSE EXPANSION ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IN KWADON DISTRICT OF YAMALTU- DEBA LOCAL GOVERNMNT AREA, GOMBE STATE

Abstract

The study sought to evaluate urban landuse expansion on agricultural landuse in Kwadon District. The information derived
for this study was mainly through field survey, oral interview, questionnaire administration and imageries from Google earth from 1999 and 2015. The geo-referenced Google earth image of the area was digitized (on-screen) using ArcGIS 10.4.1
version. The GIS analysis result for change detection over landuses for the time period of 1999 to 2015 was a decrease in
agricultural land from 49.31% to 34.22%, while built-up area increases from 9.04% to 25.58%. The study revealed the causes
of the expansion which were population growth, migration and developmental project. It also revealed the dominant
activities that took over farmlands in the area, included residential, commercial and semi-industrial uses among others. The
study also revealed that reduction in crop production, loss of farmlands, changes in type of crops grown, which lead to food
insecurity, are the effects of landuse expansion on crop production. Hence, farmers developed the following strategies;
intensification of the use of remaining farmland, engaging in off-farm activities, changing crops grown and acquisition of
new farm plots. The study recommended that an appropriate planning and zoning should be adopted with impact studies
and scenarios, in order to protect agricultural lands from urban landuse encroachment.