This study assessed spatial expansion of urban activities and agricultural lands in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State-Nigeria between the period of 1999 and 2012. The study employed ILWIS Academic 3.2a image processing software to conduct Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) analysis on Remotely Sensed (RS) data and Geographical Information System (GIS). A supervised classification was also adopted to identify land use type, and image differencing to identify the change. The study found out that there is a continuous decline in the total amount of farmland in Makurdi from 1999-2012. Specifically, it was found that in 1999, farmlands covered 43% of the study area while in 2012 it was reduced to 22%, indicating that spatial expansion of urban activities has been on the increase and may result in absolute loss in cropland with other sustainability risks and threats of livelihoods if not appropriately managed. The study therefore recommended that spatial expansion of urban activities should be well managed and controlled as well as to take into cognizance areas needed to be reserved for farming while carrying out urban development of an area.
This study investigated the effects of urban sprawl on peripheral agricultural lands in Makurdi City over the period 1999-2012. The study conducted a land use and vegetation cover change (LULCC) analysis using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) data to analyze two epochs of Land Sat imagery, 1999 and 2012, acquired to achieve the objective. It was found that between 1999 and 2012, urban sprawl had a negative impact on peripheral agricultural land in Makurdi town, as it significantly reduced peripheral agricultural land. The study also revealed that despite the adverse impact of urban sprawl on peripheral agricultural lands in Makurdi town, its socio-economic impact has led to the establishment of infrastructural facilities such as roads, electricity, markets, and parks. Therefore, the study recommended that the agricultural landscape plan be incorporated by the government into urban land use planning systems so that urbanization does not interfere with agricultural activities and thus maximize their collective benefits.
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