RESOURCE USE AMONG CASSAVA FARMERS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Agriculture is the major and most certain path to economic growth and sustainability in Nigeria (Chigbu, 2008). According to Ikpi, Olayemi and Kadu (2002) agriculture encompasses all aspects of human activities – being the art, act, a cultural necessity and science of production of food (goods). All these simultaneously create another activity chain that satisfies social and economic needs (Chigbu, 2008).According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 2009) Nigeria is endowed with an expansive landmass covering 923,768km2, an estimated arable land of about 68 million hectares, abundance of natural forest and rangeland covering 37 million hectares, various varieties of livestock and wildlife. The organization also noted that the country has an agricultural friendly climate, coastal and marine resources of about 960km shoreline. Nigeria’s agricultural resources, according to the organization, also include expansive rivers and lakes covering 120,000 Sq.km. The resources also include a large consumer market as shown by population figures of 140 million (NPC, 2006), that exist to reap the potentials that would outpace oil in the long run.