PERCEPTION OF SUDANO-SAHELIAN’S PEOPLE ON DESERTIFICATION AND ITS PROCESS

Desertification is a major challenge for the people of the Sudano-Sahelian. Some of its effects on Sudano-Sahelians include hunger arising from a degraded soil, absence of portable water and general poverty. Incidentally, the action of humans has been implicated as major causative factors of desertification. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if the bearers of the burden of desertification are the major causes of the problem. Zamfara state was randomly picked from among the eleven frontline states that fall within the Sudano-Sahelia region. Applying the Taro Yamen’s formula, 500 farmers comprising 50 large scale farmers and 450 small scale farmers were selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were computed using SPSS version 20, while correlation and regression analyses were applied to test the hypothesis as regards significant relationship between desertification and the perception of the people. The results indicated no significant relationship (p>0.054) between desertification and the perception of the people. In conclusion, though the people are aware that their activities impacted desertification but are handicapped in terms of possessing the resources to fight it. Hence, they continued with their way of life and thereby aggravating an already bad situation.