Perceived livelihood impacts and adaptation of vegetable farmers to climate variability and change in selected sites from Ghana, Uganda and Nigeria

Abstract

In the wake of deepened situations of changing climate, a clear understanding of the perceived impacts and adaptation of climate variability and change on livelihoods of vegetable farmers in Western and Eastern Africa, which is not readily available, is critical for sustainable vegetable production in Africa. Development planning for climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment was utilised in the study. Using multi-stage sampling procedure, 193 vegetable farmers in selected sites prominent for vegetable production from Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria were used. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and linear regression at α0.05. Awareness of climate variability and change was high among most respondents from the three countries, but highest among respondents from Uganda (78.3%). Awareness was highest for long dry spell ($$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 1.90) and drought ($$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 1.81) and lowest for harmful gas emissions ($$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 0.76). Changes in climate variability and trends were perceived to be highest in terms of flood volume/damage caused by flood to farmlands in Nigeria ($$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 3.85) and Uganda ($$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 5.0), but in terms of increased temperature for Ghana ($$\bar{x}$$ x ¯ = 4.93). Impact of climate-related changes on vegetable farming was high in Ghana (98.3%) and Nigeria (46.6%) but low in Uganda (5.0%). Awareness (β = 0.14), perception (β = 0.15) use of adaptation strategies (β = 0.10) and household size (β = − 0.19) predicted change in perceived impact of climate variability among vegetable farmers. Vegetable farmers in Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda are affected differently by climate variability. Farmers in these countries also have different priorities for adaptation strategies. Locality-specific climate adaptation strategies would help ease farmers burden due to climate change.

Underutilised Indigenous Vegetables’ (UIVs) Business in Southwestern Nigeria: Climate Adaptation Strategies

“…This result shows that farmers are well aware of climate change. This result is similar to Fadairo et al (2019), who also found that awareness of climate variability and change was high among vegetables farmers.…”

“…Indigenous vegetables farmers, therefore, adopt a number of adaptation strategies to mitigate the effect of climate change on their production activities. Although Fadairo et al (2019) examined the perceived likelihood impact and adaptation of vegetables farmers to climate change, their emphasis was not on indigenous vegetables which is the focus of this study. Their study advocated for locality-specific climate change adaptation strategies.…”

“…The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) defines adaptation as "any adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities." Climate adaptation is termed as a correct adjustment to climate variability and change, especially for smallholder farmers to enhance resilience or reduce vulnerability to its effects (Fadairo et al 2019).…”

Climate-induced conflicts and livelihoods of farming households in Nigeria: lessons from farmers-herdsmen conflict-ridden communities in Benue State

“…The top most priority given to prayer as a means of coping with conflict among the respondents is not uncommon in most West African countries where religion plays critical roles in daily survival of most households (Ogunlela and Mukhtar, 2009). This is also similar to the assertion of Egbe et al (2014) and Fadairo et al (2019) that prayer play important roles as a mechanism for coping with climate change among farmers in Nigeria. This finding shows farmers as desiring peace and not crisis.…”

The Subjective Climate Migrant: Climate Perceptions, Their Determinants, and Relationship to Migration in Cambodia

“…The relationship between climate change perception and livelihoods is both important and underresearched (Kolawole et al 2016;Fadairo, Williams, and Nalwanga 2019). Although less readily available in cross-sectional data sets than socioeconomic and demographic indicators such as age, wealth, and gender, data on livelihoods constitute a potentially powerful predictor of climate perception, framing climatic factors according to particular economic sensitivities.…”