Authors:
Mohammed Babagana,Mbatudde, Maria,Abubakar Adamu,Yusuf Abdullahi Magama and Gambo Ahuaibu Suleiman |
Abstract:
The study was conducted in the months of July-September 2017 to assess strategies used for the
control of the invasive Typha grass (Typhadomingensis) along Nguru wetlands, Yobe state,
Nigeria. Three towns namely; Nguru, Kakori and DogonKuka all along the Nguru wetlands in
Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State were selected for the study.A total of 171
respondents comprising of local communities and officials of the Hadejia Nguru Wetland
Conservation Project (HNWCP) and Komodougu Yobe Basin Wetlands Development Initiative
(KYB-WDI)selected using Convenient, Snowball and Systematic Random sampling techniques
participated in the study. Descriptive Survey method of research study was employed while data
was collected using closed ended self made questionnaires and structured Interview Guide. Data
collected was analyzed in SPSS Version 6 using the Frequency, Percentage, Mean and Standard
Deviation distribution tables. The study discovered that the task of controlling typha invasion
was so big and efforts put in by government and other related agencies were not enough.
However, efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria were commendable. Manual cutting,
burning and use of herbicides were the most widely used control methods by the local
communities. The locals could not afford the clearance of typha alone so usually employ the
services of others in spite the fact that no assistance of any form is given to them by the
government. Controlling typha invasion greatly affected farmers productivity while
effectiveness of the control efforts were affected by certain factors such as the rapid natural
spread capability of the grass, poverty etc. Conservation agencies stated some challenges being
faced in the control of typha proliferation which included poor funding, farmers illiteracy and lukewarm attitude of the government, lack of working tools and equipments and so on. Based on
the findings made, it is recommended that efficient methods of controlling typha grass that are
used in other countries and proved to be effective such as the careful and controlled use of
herbicides, Lake draw-down methods and biological methods should be employed |
