Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between land use change and agricultural land availability has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Plateau State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Plateau State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While land use change is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on agricultural land availability within Plateau State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to land use change are helping or hindering agricultural land availability — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Land Use Change on agricultural land availability in Plateau State.
2. To assess the extent to which land use change influences agricultural land availability within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with land use change in relation to agricultural land availability.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing land use change in order to improve agricultural land availability.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of land use change on agricultural land availability in Plateau State?
2. To what extent does land use change influence agricultural land availability within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with land use change in relation to agricultural land availability?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize land use change in order to improve agricultural land availability?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around agricultural land availability. For managers and practitioners within Plateau State, the study provides practical insight into how land use change can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on geography by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Land Use Change and its relationship with agricultural land availability within the context of Plateau State. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.