LAND SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR LATEX RUBBER CULTIVATION IN OBAFEMI - OWODE LGA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Rubber is one of the major cash crops grown in Nigeria, which generates income or forex to the nation. To meet up with the demand for the latex rubber both international and local market; it is imperatives to increase the extent under rubber cultivation. Expansion of the rubber into site area that had not been well known is focused on rubber development activities to achieve the national production targets. Hence the objective of this study is to develop a site suitability map for rubber cultivation in Obafemi-Owode LGA, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. The study was carried out in GIS environment using weight overlay method (WOM) with AHP technique. The result from the suitability revealed that most of the area (70%) is suitable site with other have no or little constraint which is the can be mitigate using irrigation management system to overcome the precipitation short fall in the area at the early stage of the plant growth. The information derived from this study will offer ground for policy makers for effective decision making on the expanding rubber farming/plantation in the area. Keywords: Suitability Analysis, GIS, AHP, WOM, latex rubber, rubber plantation