Tree conservation practices among dry season vegetable farmers: A case study of Abeokuta.

Abstract

In order to assess the sensitivity and responsiveness of dry season vegetable farmers to tree planting and conservation campaigns, four settlements in Abeokuta (two per Local Government Area) were surveyed. The study sites were Olomore and lIewo in Abeokuta North; Asero and Abiola way in Abeokuta south. Twenty (20) vegetable farms in all were visited and the common tree species retained on the farms are Raphia hookeri Mann & Wendel, Gilricldia sepium (Jacq) Walp, Bambusa vulgaris Scrandex wendel, KJgelia africana (Lam) Benth, Terminalia catappa Linn, Rauvolfia caffra Sond, Ficus capensis Thump, Uapaca togoensis Pax, Syzygium guineense (Wild) DC, Mitragyna ciliata (K Krause) Ridsdale, Gardenia im:Jerialis K. Schum, Elaeis guineensls Jacq, Xylopia quintasii Engl & Diels, Pandanus caudela brum Beauv, Azadirachta undica A Juss, Bombax buonopczense P. Beauv and Adansonia digitata Linn. The frequency of occurrence, growth and use patterns were evaluated while the Simpson Diversity Index (S.I) was calculated for trees retained on vegetable farms at each settlement. Efaeis gunieensis is the most prevalent tree species found in about 90% of the sampled farms. The Olomore farms have the highest S.I 0: ~ .35. The retained tree species have diverse economic importance. They are generally pruned and gathered for fuelwood while some have medicinal and nutritional values. Dry season vegetable farmers are encouraged to be more innovative in conserving useful trees around their farms rather than embarking on destructive tree clearing exercises.