Policy Framework to Mitigate Soil Erosion and its Impact on Agricultural Productivity in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the policy framework required to mitigate the impact of soil erosion on agricultural productivity in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. Soil erosion, driven by deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, overgrazing, and intense rainfall, had escalated into a severe socio-economic crisis, threatening the primary livelihood of the region’s predominantly agrarian population. Employing a case study design, the research collected primary data through 68 structured questionnaires administered to smallholder farmers and 15 in-depth key informant interviews with agricultural extension officers, community leaders, and local government officials. The findings revealed the pervasive and severe nature of soil erosion, with 92% of farmers reporting significant declines in crop yields and 85% linking erosion directly to reduced household income and heightened food insecurity. The study identified a profound implementation gap, demonstrating that national and state-level policies, such as the National Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and the National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF), were largely ineffective at the local level due to poor funding, weak institutional capacity, limited community participation, and a top-down approach that overlooked widespread agricultural land degradation. Grounded in the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), the analysis concluded that effective erosion control required a fundamental shift towards integrated, community-driven, and asset-building interventions. The study recommended practical, context-specific policy measures, including the revitalization of hands-on agricultural extension services, provision of subsidized inputs for sustainable land management, the promotion of community-based conservation projects, and the strengthening of local governance structures. This research provided evidence-based, actionable recommendations to bridge the policy–practice divide, contributing to the design of more responsive and sustainable strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity, enhance livelihood resilience, and combat rural poverty in Karim-Lamido LGA and similar agroecological zones in Nigeria.