UTILIZATION OF ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY BY FARMERS IN AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The research entitled ‘’ adaptation strategies to climate change and variability by farmers in agricultural zone of Niger State, Nigeria” The study was carried out to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of farming households, and to examine how much they know about climate change and variability, and to ascertain adaptation strategies to climate change and variability adopted by them and their perception of its effectiveness. It was also to determine the factors that influence climate change and variability adaptation strategies adopted by farming households and the constraints associated with farming households on the adoption of climate change and variability adaptation strategies in the study area. Multistage random sampling procedure was used to select a total of 188 respondents for the study based on Yamane formula of 1967. The data were collected through primary source using questionnaire and interview schedule and analyzed using percentages, mean scores, Likert type rating scale and Poisson regression. Results showed that majority 88.3% were male, while 11.7% were female; most 83.5% of the respondents were within the age range of 26-50 years, with mean age of 35 years; 35.6% of the respondents were married, while 64.4% were either single or widowed. It was also found that the household size of between 6 – 10 had the highest percentage 42.6% with mean score of 5 persons, and that 76.6% of the respondent had one form of education or the other. It also affirmed that majority of the respondents 90.4% engaged in farming with farming experience of 18 years and farm size of 1-5ha. The findings revealed Incident of heavy rainfall that caused damages to crop and livestock production having mean score of (𝑋 ̅= 2.71) and decrease in average temperature amount over the years having the lowest mean score of (𝑋 ̅=1.60). It also revealed the hierarchy in adoption of adaptation strategies to climate change and variability with planting early maturing varieties and planting of high yielding varieties were 100% adopted. These variables were closely followed by use of agro-chemicals and use of manure (organic or inorganic) with 98.9%. Rural – urban migration 44.1%, reduce cultivated farm size 42.0% was least adopted. The result revealed that planting of early maturing varieties of crop with mean score of (𝑋 ̅=4.49), and high yielding varieties with mean score of (𝑋 ̅=4.25), were more effective among the adaptation strategies adopted by the respondent. While diversifying from farm to non-farm activities (𝑋 ̅=2.64), ruralurban migration (𝑋 ̅=2.13) were found not to be effective strategies to mitigate against climate change and variability. The adaptation strategies adopted by rural farmers was tested for its effectiveness using the z-value from Poisson regression analysis. The estimated z –value (1.98) for age was positive and significant at 5% probability level. Education (3.94) was also positive and significant at 1% probability level. Farm size (5.23) was positive and significant at 1% probability level. In conclusion, adaptation strategies to climate change and variability that were found to be effective was identified and when adapted would reduce effect and impact of climate change and variability on farming household. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made, Weather information that is more reliable should be adequately communicated to farmers using right channel, High yielding and early maturing varieties should be

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made available to farmers at subsidized rate and timely by the releasing institutions and organization, Government and non-governmental organization should provide means that are easy to access soft loans without too much stress and collaterals.