Climate Events and Impact on Cropping Activities of Small-Scale Farmers in a Part of Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the variations of selected climatic variables (rainfall and temperature) and the perceptions of small-scale farmers on the effects of extreme climate condition on cropping activities in the rain forest ecological region in southwest Nigeria. The area is characterized by three different subecological strata (the mountainous Akoko region in the north, the southern coastal area, and the middle, relatively lowland and more urbanized area) whose effects on the climate are made explicit in the relatively different values of the climate variables. Analysis of the responses to questions on perceptions of extreme climate effects indicated that about 70% of the farmers were aware of the effects of extreme climate events on crop production and yield, and over 50% indicated that too early rainfall, late rainfall, prolonged dryness after an initial rainfall, excessive rainfall, and windstorms were the common weather-related causes of low crop yields. More than 76% of the farmers changed planting dates and diversified their crops as mitigation measures, while about 72% adopted mulching and intercropping as adaptation strategies against extreme weather conditions. Only less than 20% had access to government support facilities and modern infrastructure. The study concluded that although the farmers respond to variable and extreme climate events in the study area, the responses, being not adequately supported by adequate farming infrastructure, do not guarantee sustainable food security in the region.

Impacts of variability and change in rainfall on gender of farmers in Anambra, Southeast Nigeria

“…(2016) which reported that the wettest month was June in Lagos, September in Rivers, and August in Katsina and Borno, respectively. This agrees with the results of Eludoyin et al. (2017) that too early rainfall; late rainfall, prolonged dryness after an initial rainfall, excessive rainfall, and windstorms were the common weather-related causes of low crop yields.…”

Climate Change Perceptions by Smallholder Coffee Farmers in the Northern and Southern Highlands of Tanzania

“…The understanding largely targets the smallholder farmers who are highly vulnerable to climate change because most depend on rain-fed agriculture, cultivating in marginal areas, and lack access to technical or financial support that could help them invest in more climate-resilient agriculture. Different climatic studies show that sub-Saharan Africa is among the worst impacted region by the climate change and thus, a better understanding of how farmers view climate issues is an imperative step toward improving resilience [7,8]. Therefore, it can be premised that perceived personal experiences could affect climate change belief and the corresponding adaptation measures taken.…”

Are smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability supported by climatological evidence? Case study of a semi-arid region in South Africa

“…Botlokwa Village in Limpopo Province represents a cohort of rural smallholder farmers representative of peers across South Africa and the Southern African region, which are exposed to significant drought risk. Like peers across the country and the continent at large, their activities sustain livelihoods by providing food for households and as a source of income (Eludoyin et al, 2017). A number of studies have been conducted in the area, notably on: the extent of drought risk (Mpandeli and Maponya, 2013a;Mpandeli and Maponya, 2013b), impact of climate variability on agricultural (crop) yield (Mpandeli and Maponya, 2013b;Tshiala and Olwoch, 2010), farmers adaptation strategies (Debela et al, 2015) and factors influencing choice of coping strategies (Maponya and Mpandeli, 2012).…”