Factors Affecting Availability for Agricultural Purposes – SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Factors affecting land availability for agricultural production.

1. Population pressure: An increase in population lowers the area of available land. Social life and demand for life increase with population growth.

2. Land tenure system: – Leads to land fragmentation which rarely gives enough land for effective agricultural venture. The communal land tenure system leads to land deterioration.

3. Topography: – Land in mountainous and hilly areas with rocks is not suitable for agriculture. Steepness of the slope of the hill or mountain encourages rapid runoff and erosion. Depressed part of the land is easily waterlogged.

4. Soil type: – A land with predominantly sandy soil is not suitable for agriculture. A land that is mainly clay is difficult to till and heavy to work on.

5. Government laws: – Government laws on land use of decree 1978 prevent individuals from owning land.

6. Environmental pollution and oil spillage: – This renders land unsuitable for agriculture or cultivation. 

8. Climatic factors: – Restricts the use of land for agricultural purposes. Rainfall is the major determinant in crop and animal distribution. Areas with heavy rainfall favours tree crops while areas with moderate rainfall favour food crops.
9. Cultural practices: – Cultural practices like bush burning, shifting cultivation, deforestation etc make land unsuitable for agriculture.
10. Socio-economic factors: – Use of land for residential buildings, markets, schools, roads etc does make land available for agricultural use.