THE IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN THE NIGER DELTA

*Ugwuanyi, Chinasa Agatha; **Garba, Anna and **Makarau, Shehu Bako

*Research Fellow, Department of Research and Studies, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) 13/15 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

**Department of general Agriculture, Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Samaru-Kataf, Kaduna State

ABSTRACT

Since the discovery of oil in the Niger delta, the region has become the centre of intensive and extensive oil exploration and production activities. These activities have been associated either directly or indirectly with a myriad of environmental problems which has been main source of sorrow for the people of Niger Delta region as a whole. This has polluted both the water bodies,  land terrestrial ecosystems and one of the biggest concerns associated with this pollution in the environment is, the risk to farmland, fisheries and potable water contamination since most of the people’s livelihood depends on farming, fishing and usage of water for domestic purpose. The Niger Delta has lost more than 20% of its habitable environment due to oil spills which extensively destroys crops and aquaculture through the contamination of waterways, ground water and soil, flaring of associated gas and mismanagement of the land resources. Oil spills have shown significant negative impact on crop yield and land productivity which further impoverish the already poor farmers in these oil producing areas. With increasing soil infertility as a result of the destruction of soil micro-organisms and dwindling agricultural productivity, farmers have been forced to abandon their land to seek non-existent alternative means of livelihood. This paper therefore, examines the nature of environmental pollution in the area and its impact on agricultural productivity. It also argues that the pervasive impact of oil related environmental problems are the drastic decrease in the nutrient value of the soil, the decrease in available land mass for cultivation, the destruction of food, cash crops and marine life which ultimately lead to a decline in agricultural productivity. This paper finally submits that the solution to environmental pollution lies on the policy of sustainable development and the evolution of sound environmental management principles by all stakeholders at all levels.

Keywords: Environmental degradation, Agricultural productivity, Exploration, Niger Delta,