Urbanization and its Impact on Agricultural Lands in Growing Cities in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria

Land is a basic, definite and important natural resources which supplies most of man’s food. However, urbanization has remains the major threats challenging the sustainability of agricultural lands in most major growing cities of the developing countries. This research work was carried out to assess the impacts of urbanization on arable land in Makurdi town. The study used Remote Sensing and GIS with satellite images to analysis, mapped and quantified the land use types and extent at which agricultural lands are lost to urbanization within the study period. The findings revealed that the land use types had changed significantly within the study period. The result also shown that, the study area has lost 200km2 of agricultural land representing 19% of the total landmass to urbanization within the study period. Built –up has gained 336km2 representing 32% of the total landmass of the study area within the same period. Thus, the study area has emerged from being predominantly rural area to a city with an appreciable urbanization level. The study recommended that: i. effective and proper management strategies to control urban expansion to agriculture lands by the government are taken such as integrating agricultural land use into urban land use planning. ii. Proactive measure is taken by all stakeholders in the study area towards a better understanding of the changing pattern of land use of the area.