Nigeria is one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
where self-suffi ciency in food production remains a critical
challenge even in the absence of wars and natural disasters
(ADB, 1999). It is reported that the population in SSA is rising
at about 2.5% which outstrips food production that is growing
at about 1.5%. The results of population pressure and the
demand of land for non-agricultural uses lead to decrease in
available agricultural land and consequently small farm size.
Olutawosin and Olaniyan (2001) noted that Nigeria is a nation
of smallholder farmers cultivating an average of 2 hectares per
household under traditional system of farming. Spencer (1991)
opined that about 90% of food production in SSA (Nigeria
inclusive) comes from smallholder farmers under traditional
system of farming. In a situation of small farm size, agricultural
intensifi cation is the key to effectively addressing the problem
of self-insuffi ciency in food production (Pinstrup-Anderson and
Pandya–Lorch, 1994). Agricultural intensifi cation is defi ned as
the production of more food per unit area of land. Agricultural
intensifi cation is usually portrayed either as an opportunity or as
a threat to the environment. The advocates of the concept argue
that it holds great promise as an instrument to simultaneously
alleviate poverty and meet food needs at all times while the
opponents express great concern that it may lead to degradation
of natural resources and unparalleled loss of soil nutrients. No
doubt, agriculture is the most important user of environmental
services including water, forests, pastures and soil nutrients.
Hence, intensive land use without appropriate soil management
practices leads to environmental degradation