AN ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL WASTE AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN IKARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE.

Aruya, E.I.* and Mamman, M.

This study assessed the nature of animal waste and factors militating against its management in Ikara Local Government Area. The ten wards in the study area were used for this study. A sample of 380 farmers was surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire which was administered using convenient sampling techniques based on population size. The study revealed that in Ikara Local Government Area, Kurmin Kogi has the highest amount of animal waste, with 33,400kg or 23.32% of the total animal waste generated. It was also observed that goats contributed the highest source of animal waste, with cattle as the next major contributor. The study revealed most of the farming households in the study area still engage in inefficient management practices such as open dumping, burying and burning of their agricultural wastes. The current management option is not perfect and a framework to ensure adequate management system and the collection facilities is not available. However, some farmers reuse their crop remnants for organic fertilizers and in other cases sell them. Nearly one-third of the farmers reported that ignorance of the benefits and strategies of animal waste management is one of the reasons for poor utilization of animal droppings in the study area. Hence, it is suggested that intensive mass literacy programmes on the economics of animal waste management be undertaken in the study area. Awareness activities to educate the communities on the health hazards and environmental consequences of piled or poorly dumped animal wastes and burning should also be pursued. By involving the farmers and other stakeholders, government should come up with appropriate policies and legislative measures to discourage dumping and burning of animal wastes.

Key words: Waste, Animal, Management, Environment, Ikara Local Government Area.