Farming household socio-economic influences on land degradation in district mardan of Pakistan

Land Degradation (LD) is an expanding universal problem influenced all areas of human prosperity. This research contributes to this end by analysing the perceptions of farmer and its socio-economic influences towards LD in four purposively selected union councils i.e. Toru, Ghari Kapoora, Lund Khwar, Katlang-1 of district Mardan. A total of 90 farmers were selected through proportionate simple random sampling from 857 register farmers. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire from the heads of the farming households (HH) and analysed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. It was found that majority (62%) of the farmers were in the age groups of 41-60. HH size of the farmers was 6-9 members per HH. Farming experience of the HH heads was 21-31 and above years as reported by 63.33% of the respondents. Chisquare P-values pointed that age, HH size and farming experience have positive relationship with the LD. Land possession was 6-15 acre for the 53.33% of the farmers and growing both cash and food crops. In the area, the farmers perceived for the high level of LD and the causes for this was soil erosion, soil fertility loss, overgrazing, over population growth, soil salinization, tillage erosion, poor land management practices and water degradation. The effects of LD were difficulty in farming, drought, desertification, increased the necessity for fertilizers, loss in livestock production, migration, poverty and economic backwardness. High land degradation was perceived by the farmers and having positive association with the socio-economic influences. There is a need for awareness about the different land management and conservation practices coupled with different socio-economic sector-specific interventions in order to reduce the LD in the area for the future sustainability.