An Approach Towards Mesquite Management in Kassala State
An Approach Towards Mesquite Management in Kassala State
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Date
2015-05-17
Authors
Abdel Magid, Talaat Dafalla
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Khartoum
Abstract
Mesquite has received increased attention at public and social levels. It is
perceived as useful in its contribution in forest products and environmental
concern. Mesquite is an invader to agricultural and range lands. It spreads
erratically in agricultural fields, and on neglected and left over agricultural lands,
range land, along river banks and tributaries and in urban sites.
The principal aim of the study is to evaluate the perception of local communities
towards using mesquite products as compared to indigenous species. The study
investigated the main factors affecting mesquite spread and reviews the state of
knowledge about the extent of mesquite invasion in forest reserves in Kassala
State in eastern Sudan. The aim was also to provide guidelines for management
and control of mesquite and to assess the impact of education level on people
perception towards trees and tree products.
In a cross-sectional survey, a total of 431 farmers were interviewed using several
data collection methods including interviews, informal discussions and
questionnaires. Previous inventories and surveys were based on ground and aerial
techniques. Cross tabulations of selected variables were created as a support to
fulfill tests of significant internal differences between different variables among
different categories of respondents. Chi-square tests were used to disaffiliate
aspects related to local understanding and external influences. In the present
study, 24 cross tabulated actions were tested by chi-square to provide in
numerical figures the level of similarities or differences between categories of
users. A summary of the chi-square tests values were arranged in ascending order
ranging from chi-square value of 9.436 to chi-square value of 245.55.
An attempt was made to elucidate the socio-economic factors, to evaluate the
attitude of local communities towards mesquite eradication and replacement. The
results of the study revealed that mesquite provides benefits but also causes
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problems. According to the perception of the respondents, mesquite provides a
wide range of products and services to local communities that make the species
valuable and shows potential for multi purpose uses in many aspects. It provides
timber, fuel wood, charcoal, fodder, food, income and many benefits. On the
other hand, mesquite has in a number of cases negatively impacted traditional
land uses and is becoming a problem on agricultural lands.
The study indicated that educated people are more supporting to mesquite
eradication than the illiterate. The association of educated people with extension
media is higher than the possibility for people having low education level.
Consequently educated people may have better understanding about the negative
impacts of mesquite on agricultural lands, thus they support mesquite
eradication. Low educated people are to some degree reliant on mesquite wood
for livelihood support. The study concluded that, mesquite invaded valuable
agricultural lands and sometimes grows into impenetrable thickets causing
enormous problems to farmers and agricultural managers. For this main reason,
mesquite eradication is supported by the major sectors of the public and societies.
Description
140 Pages
Keywords
Approach ,Towards, Mesquite, Management ,Kassala State