Socio-cultural and Environmental Impacts of Pig Farming on Nearby Residents in Imo State, Nigeria
Abstract
The study investigated the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of pig farms on nearby residents in Imo state, Nigeria as a useful first step towards preventing, and solving the conflicts arising from pig farming activities in the state. Primary data generated from 60 residents living within one kilometer of existing pig farms in the state were used for the study. The multi-stage sampling technique was used for the study in which the first stage was the purposive selection of the three agricultural zones of the state, while the second stage was the selection of two Local Government Area (LGA) from each agricultural zone based on the density of the pig farms in the LGAs. The third, and final stage involved the selection of 10 non-pig farmers per LGA living within one kilometer of pig farms, based on their willingness to participate in the study. Data were generated with the aid of structured questionnaires, interviews, and direct observations during two visits, first, to administer the questionnaires, conduct interviews, and make observations, and second, to retrieve the questionnaires, conduct further interviews, and make observations where necessary. The data generated were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, means, and percentages. Majority of the residents were vehicle drivers (51.67%), and teachers (26.67%) having family size of 4 – 6 persons (45.00%), and 7 – 9 persons (31.67%). Most of them (70.00%), have lived in the area for 1 to 10 years, while another 21.67% have resided there for 11 to 20 years, even though most of pig farms (68.88%) were set up 1 – 10 years ago, and others (31.67%) 11 – 20 years ago. Only 28.33% of the residents were not in cordial relationship with the farmers, although majority (68.00%) see the farms as sources of environmental concerns. These concerns were however not serious enough to warrant protests (88.33%), legal action (100.00%), police action (11.67%), relocation from the vicinity (88.33%), or closure of the farms (60.00%), although all agreed that the best solution was for the farms to be relocated. The environmental problems were mostly associated with bad odour (45.00%), inappropriate dung disposal (30.00%), and animal noise (25.00%), which were generally (91.67%), not being addressed by the farmers. Most of the residents (78.33%) stated that their friends have raised concerns, while another 61.67% have lost friends because of the environmental pollution problems. Thus, there is the need for regulatory agencies to enforce the existing laws about citing of livestock farms in residential areas in the state.
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References
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