Economic implications of wetland conversion to agriculture :

Abstract

The study examined the economic implications of wetland conversion to agriculture using Lake Bisina wetland as a case study. This was done by looking at the drivers of wetland conversion to agriculture, the benefits derived from Lake Bisina wetland and the costs of wetland conversion to agriculture. The study was cross sectional and it used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Methods of the data collection used were oral interviews, and questionnaires. The data collected from a sample of 100 respondents was analyzed using SPSS (version 20). Shortage of land, fertility of wetland, availability of water and cool climate conditions which is favourable for rice growing are the major drivers of wetland conversion to agriculture. The major benefits derived from Lake Bisina wetland, include fish, water, birds, and roots for medicine, grass for thatching, grazing land and rainfall attraction. On costs of wetland conversion to agriculture, benefits lost due to wetland conversion to agriculture include; grazing land has reduced, trees have been destroyed, rainfall patterns have changed, birds have reduced, roots for medicine are lost, fish has reduced. The study concludes that wetlands conversion to agriculture has serious negative economic implications due to loss of ecosystem services by the local community.