Analyses of Land Degradation and Its Implications for Food Security in the Bawku West District of Ghana

Abstract

Land degradation is a serious environmental problem with significant implications for food security, particularly in areas where agriculture is the primary industry. Focusing on the Bawku West district of Ghana, this study examined the dynamics and the degree of land degradation and their direct and indirect effects on food security. In the study area, land productivity is directly related to food security, which was measured in terms of food availability, accessibility, and stability of food supply. The research again evaluates how much soil erosion, deforestation, overgrazing, and other types of land degradation exist and their effects on agricultural productivity through using of field surveys, remote sensing, and interviews with farmers in the district. Land degradation was evaluated using bio-physical indicators of land degradation, such as erosion and decreased soil fertility, and their connection to agricultural results. The study sought to establish the relationship between degradation and food security. Crop yields decrease as land quality deteriorates due to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and vegetation loss. In the study, both primary and secondary data were collected from smallholder farmers and agricultural extension officers in six major communities (Zongoyiri, Widnaba, Sapeliga, Boyaa, Binaba, and Zebilla) in the district, as well as the agricultural directorate of the District Assembly respectively. Thirty-five questionnaires each were administered in five of the major towns (Zongoyiri, Widnaba, Sapeliga, Boyaa, and Binaba), whilst Zebilla, being the district capital, had twenty-nine persons filling out the questionnaires. The primary data were analysed using the chi-square test of SPSS. Tables and charts were generated and interpreted using same. Also, remote sensing imagery of the study area were downloaded from the USGS website and used in classifying the Bawku West District. The method of classification that was employed here was the supervised classification. Envi 5.3, a digital image processing software was used to pre-process and analyse the spatial data using the object based image analysis whilst ArcMap 10.8 was used in designing maps. The district’s food insecurity is seen to be made worse by the findings, which show a notable decline in soil fertility, lower crop yields, and increased susceptibility to climate variability. Out of the working population of 133,889, 107,111 people representing 80% are engaged in agricultural-related activities. The research also finds socioeconomic variables that contribute to unsustainable land use practices, such as issues with land tenure and poverty. Finally, 407.0583km² of land was found to be degraded during the 20-year period (2002 and 2022). This represents 38.0428% of the total land area in the district.