Sustainable Agro-forestry practices for climate change Adaptation and Promotion of Organic Agriculture among farmers in Imo State, Nigeria.

Summary

The study ascertained sustainable agro- forestry practices and the benefits as a mitigation strategy for climate change and for promotion of organic agriculture among farmers in Imo State-Nigeria. Data was collected through questionnaire distributed to 180 respondents. It was analysed using descriptive statistics - percentages, frequency distribution tables, mean scores. The results revealed that the prevalent agro-forestry practices included rotational farming, improved fallow, intercropping, live fence making and soil and water conservation among others. The respondents agreed that the benefits of agro-forestry included reduced soil erosion, reduced heat stress, protection of crops from wind damage, improves soil fertility using organic manure, reduction of wind speed, among others practices, refer to the tables. Extension agents should visit farmers for information dissemination and land should be allocated to enterprising agro-foresters. The government should enact laws protecting agro-foresters, forest reserves, encourage and invest in organic and agro-forestry agriculture related researches to determine the best combination of forest and crop production methods best for the environment in order to reduce the effect of climate change.