1.1 Introduction
Urbanization is one of the anthropogenic activities that impact on land use/land cover. The increase in the population of the people that live in cities can give rise to urban expansion. The movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of better livelihood can lead to the expansion of urban areas and an increase in social and economic activities (Lambin et al., 2003). Urbanization is an important driving force in migration and commuting because urban areas offer many economic opportunities to rural people through better jobs, new skills and cultural changes. Population pressure essentially has led to suburbanization, the spreading of out of urban areas and lower density leaving for a substantial fraction of the population. This has produced a land use and quality of life problem, using up large amount of fringe areas with loss agricultural and ecological benefits (Iheke and Nto, 2010).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The urban population, especially in developing countries, has increased more rapidly than the rural population worldwide (Lambin et al., 2003). There are three major concerns over the continuing farmland loss due to urbanization (Oueslati et al., 2014). Urbanization is increasing in both the developed and developing countries. In 1950, for instance 30 percent of the world's population lived in urban areas, by 2002, that figure had risen to 47 percent of the global population (UN population Division, 2002).
Over three quarter of the population of industrialized countries presently live in urban areas, while rural to urban migration in developing countries is increasing at a rapid pace. This rapid-and often uncontrolled urbanization is unprecedented by historical standards (van Ginkel, 2008).
Yet, urbanization rates in developing regions differ widely; while in Latin America and the Caribbean urbanization rates stand at 78 percent, only 34 percent of the African population lives in urban areas. By 2020, it is predicted that nearly half (46.2 percent) of the population will be urban (UN-Habitat, 2001).
Recent research shows that such urban land use conversion is often driven by economic factors, with positive feedback loops between urban land use expansion and economic growth in the city, as well as in the region (Bai, 2012). Urbanization affects all spheres of human life both in the rural and urban setting. Urbanization increased residential population and expansion of non-farm business and industry increases the pressure on farmers and makes it more costly and difficult to farm in the traditional way.
The issue is complicated by the fact that population and business industry growth often takes place in prime agricultural areas (Asamoah, 2010). Rapid urban population growth means an increasing demand for urban land, particularly for housing, but also for various other urban uses. Urbanization has led to land use conversion from agricultural land to urban land use, such as for infrastructure, industrial, residential or commercial uses. Such land use conversion often reduces the most fertile land, and therefore the impact on agricultural production and food security is often larger than the absolute amount of land involved (Francis et al., 2013).
Iheke and Nto (2010) noted that urbanization is an important driving force in migration and commuting because urban areas offer many economic opportunities to rural people through better jobs, new skills and cultural changes. They noted that the relative proximity of urban populations to farming land may be a root cause behind the factors that contribute to loss of agricultural land and agricultural intensification. Population pressure essentially has led to suburbanization, the spreading of out of urban areas and lower density leaving for a substantial fraction of the population. This has produced a land use and quality of life problem, using up large amount of fringe areas with loss agricultural and ecological benefits.
The supply of land for urban development is determined by the customary land owners and the demand for the urban land comes from the private sector, public sector and the civil society (individuals). Such lands are put into uses that will benefit the urban populations to the neglect of agriculture. A great deal of fragmentation of holding have been going on in most densely populated areas of West Africa and the nations have always attempted to intervene in order to reverse the dominance of small holder agriculture and increase the size of production units.
Urbanization leads to the inaccessibility of land, land fragmentation, change in land supply, and rapid increment in land values. This does not create a favourable environment for the development of agriculture.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Urbanization on Rural and Agricultural Development.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that cities in the study area are facing have resulted largely because urbanization is yet to correspond with the growth or decrease in agricultural productivity and output. This is responsible for the dwindling of the resources required to manage cities that has been reoccurring since last two decades and also increase the productivity in agriculture. Interestingly, there has been continued agglomeration of people into urban centres whose population is on the increase.
Growth in urban population goes with no equivalent growth in land supply. Also land is fixed in supply and does not increase with increasing population growth. Agricultural lands are most affected by rapid urbanization and its functions of demand.
Land uses for residential, industry and commercial, civic and culture tend to dominate agricultural lands in the bid for space in the urban place. This is responsible for Farmers being underprivileged to have access to arable land to cultivate thereby reducing agricultural productivity. Attainment of higher productivity presupposes the availability of skilled labour force.
Skilled labour force is required to transform the static past into a dynamic present and prosperous future. The inadequacy of skilled farm labour is further compounded by unavailability of labour, particularly when it is required to satisfy seasonal labour demand. This labour shortage has been aggravated by a substantial reduction in the supply of family labour due to the persistent rural-urban drift.
Majority of the people that migrate to urban centres without any form of education or skills are responsible for over-population experienced in urban centres in sub-Saharan Africa and also end up as nuisance retarding the development of urban areas. Same over-population in urban areas welcomes poor welfare. It is on this background that this study aims to investigate the impact of urbanization on food production and agricultural development in Nigeria.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Urbanization on Rural and Agricultural Development. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the prevalence of the impact of urbanization on food production and agricultural development in Nigeria;
- To encourage Nigerians and the government to invest more on agriculture to bring about economic development; and
- To establish the ways urbanization can be controlled in order to increase food production and agricultural development in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the prevalence of the impact of urbanization on food production and agricultural development in Nigeria?
- What are the ways urbanization can be controlled in order to increase food production and agricultural development in Nigeria?
- What are the ways Nigerians and the government can be encouraged to invest more on agriculture to bring about economic development?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no negative relationship between urbanization and agricultural productivity.
- H1: There is a negative relationship between urbanization and agricultural productivity.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Urbanization has no significant impact on agricultural development in the area under review.
- H1: Urbanization has a significant impact on agricultural development in the area under review.
1.7 Significance of Study
The government will benefit from the research findings as it will help them, through its environmental planning and Agricultural developments. The government will by more conscious of the problem and need of the people and equal development.
The study will be beneficial to Delta state government that specific areas should be earmarked for agricultural use only and protected from encroachment and other competing uses through appropriate legislations.
Also, the study will be used by policy makers to make policies that will grant farmers secured right to use land should be implemented for increased productivity.
Finally, the findings of this study will create awareness to the people of Delta state to understand the dangers of Urbanization to Agricultural development in the state.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Urbanization on Rural and Agricultural Development using Delta State as a reference point (case study).
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Urbanization:
Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural areas to urban areas, the decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which each society adapts to this change.
Impact:
The action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
Agricultural Development:
Agricultural development is defined as the process that creates the conditions for the fulfillment of agricultural potential. Cash crops the sustainability of production processes and agricultural growth; and the efficiency of the allocation of agricultural products.
