Abstract

Increased food production in Nigeria has over the years been attributed to area expansion while reports of
shortened fallow period of farmlands are suggestive of shift towards intensification. The study examines the
structure of land-use intensification in food crop production in Southwestern Nigeria towards determining its
drivers and concordance with condition for sustainable intensification. The results showed that land-use
intensification is characterized by high frequency of cultivation (79%) and high cropping intensity estimated as
1.24years/ha. Cropping intensity was however higher in the derived and southern guinea savannah than forest
agroecology. However, about 48%, 32% and 12% made use of inorganic fertilizer, tractor and herbicide
respectively. Farm and farmer specific attributes significantly influenced level of land-use intensity of food crop
farmers. The structure of land-use intensity portrays challenges for sustainable growth through intensification thus
underscoring the need for adequate focus on sustainable land management messages by the extension system.

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