Investigation of factors contributing to environmental degradation in Tigania North Division Tigania East District Meru County Kenya

Abstract

Environmental degradation which is simply defined as the deterioration of the earth's physical quality from ambient concentrations of pollutants was identified as a major challenge contributing factor to -low land productivity and depletion of water resources over the years in Tigania North Division. This came as a result of population growth farming methods, banditry and poaching activities and delayed land tenure systems. The people of this Division have been suffering over the years from food shortages and forest necessities This study was therefore carried out to investigate the factors contributing to environmental degradation in this particular division. The study method was descriptive and casual comparative in nature.

The sampling procedure was multi-stage sampling method. The data was collected using personal interview method. The instrument used was a semi-structured questionnaire with open and close ended questions. The analysis was descriptive in form of measure of frequency tables and percentages. The major analysis method was inferential statistics a statistical package for social science (SPSS) was used to analysis data. The study targeted the farmers, the people working in the ministries of land. Those who have been land committees. Those working in the Ministry of environment and wildlife. The research was conducted by collecting primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from small scale farmers in the division with the help of research assistants. Pre-testing of the questionnaire was done in one of the locations not sampled in the division before actual administration in the field. The data was analyzed form the questionnaires using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

The findings were then presented in frequency tables and percentages. The analysis was through descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings showed that the challenges facing farmers in implementation of soil and water concentration measures were poor farming methods, high population growth lack of title deeds and the activities of banditry and poaching. The study therefore made recommendations to policy makers to formulate land policy on land demarcation and subdivision that will enhance soil and environmental conservation. From the study it was recommended that the government of Kenya should compensate those who have been demarcated parcels of land on the hills and in the marginal areas. It was also found that learning institutions should assist in tree planting, gabion building and the like. Training programmes should target all farmers and gender.