Understanding the determinants of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder maize farmers in South-west, Nigeria

Abstract

Climate is one of the most important factors in agricultural productivity, which could directly or indirectly influence productivity since the climate is linked to physiological processes. It is, therefore, essential to understanding the various strategies used by farmers to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change and the factors that influence maize farmers' adoption and intensity of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder maize farmers in South-west Nigeria. In all, a sample of three hundred and thirty (311) smallholder maize farmers were interviewed. A double-hurdle count data model was employed to estimate the factors influencing farmers' adoption of adaptation strategies while accounting for selection bias with the plugging of inverse mill ratio (IMR) as a regressor. Significant variables such as household size, depreciation ratio, frequency of extension visits, access to extension, and non-farm income were factors influencing the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among maize farmers. Age of the respondent, age square, household size, farm-based organization (FBO), non-farm income, climate information, access to credit, farmers residing in Osun State (location_Osun), distance to market significantly influenced the intensity of climate change adaptation strategies. This study, therefore, concluded that farm-level policy efforts that aim to improve rural development should focus on farmers’ membership in FBO, increase the visits of extension agents, encourage non-farm income and access to climate change information, particularly during the off-cropping season. Policies and investment strategies of the government should be geared towards supporting improved extension service, providing on-farm demonstration training, and disseminating information about climate change adaptation strategies, particularly for smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

Perception Driven From Farmers’ Socio-economic Characteristics Towards Tackling Climate Change

“…Climate change remains to be one of the global tests against improved sustainable livelihood particularly through its proven negative impacts on agricultural productivity (Pye-Smith, 2011). Climate change continues to significantly impact agricultural performance (Adeagbo et al, 2021). In Africa, both food and nutrition insecurities continues to be alarming as its agricultural productivity is severely affected by climate change (Ziervogel et al, 2006).…”

Climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Nigeria: does non-farm employment play any role?

“…The finding is not unexpected, because 67% of farm households in the study area practice SWC technique to cope with climate change. Recent studies such as Asfaw et al., (2018) , Ojo and Baiyegunhi (2020) , and Adeagbo et al. (2021) have also identified similar strategies used by farmers to mitigate against the negative effects of climate change.…”

“…(2016) . However, studies such as Ali and Erenstein (2017) and Adeagbo et al. (2021) reported a positive relationship between climate change adaptation strategies and household size citing available of family labour as the most probable explanation.…”

“…Studies conducted by Sallawu et al (2016) and Deressa et al (2009) in Nigeria and Ethiopia share the positive impact of non-farm work on climate change adaptation strategies. Similarly, Kassie et al (2015) and Adeagbo et al (2021) reported that participation in non-farm economic activities provided farmers with sufficient financial flexibility to adopt a number of climate change adaptation strategies. Our finding revealed that taking part in non-farm businesses will provide farming households with needed capital and reduce their overall need for credit facilities, thereby promoting their investments in agricultural productivity inputs, as well as other adaptation strategies to reduce risk of production.…”

“…Several studies on the implementation of climate change adaptation and on the determinants of participation in non-farm employment have been conducted (e.g., Arimi 2014 ; Asfaw et al., 2018 ; Asfaw et al., 2017 ). Moreover, a review of climate change literature (e.g., Arimi 2014 ; Ojo and Baiyegunhi 2020 ; Adeagbo et al., 2021 ) in Nigeria shows that the focus is more on climate change impacts, climate change modelling, perceptions, coping and adaptation strategies. However, many farm households rely on income from non-farm work to implement climate change adaptation strategies and supplement what they earned from their farms ( Ojo and Baiyegunhi 2020 ; Yiridomah et al., 2020 ).…”