Perceptions on climate change and adaptation strategies among sweet potato farming households in Kwara State, Northcentral Nigeria

Abstract

Sweet potato is a food security crop with ease of production and ability to produce relatively good yields even on marginal soils. Despite these potentials, its yields have drastically reduced in recent years relative to what it used to be in the 60's and 90's. This is not unconnected with climate change, among other factors. This study therefore examines the perceptions of sweet potato farming households on climate change, the strategies employed and factors influencing their adaptation to its effects. Data were collected from 170 sweet potato farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria and analyzed with descriptive statistics, index ranking and logistic regression. Results showed that most of the farmers were aware of climate change and use different strategies to combat its deleterious effects. Factors that positively influence the farmers' adaptation status were educational status, farming experience, farm size and access to agricultural extension services while age had a negative influence on their adaptation status (at p < 0.05). Therefore, policies that will promote literacy and access to extension services among farming households and also encourage young people to practise sweet potato farming should be put in place.

Does Cassava-Based Farmers’ Sociodemographic Characteristics and Perception Predict Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability in Rain Forest and Derived Savannah Ecosystems of Nigeria?

“…Approximately 69.0% of the farmers reported that climate variability resulted in water shortage and yield reduction over the years. This finding agrees with empirical studies reported in different parts of Nigeria (Bose et al 2014;Falola & Achem 2017;Jellason et al 2019). Approximately 25% of the farmers reported damage to cassava crops due to variability in climate while 6.77 reported pest infestation.…”

“…Climate change/variability is one of the most pressing issues impacting on every facet of human lives, because of its implication on agricultural livelihood in the SSA region. In Nigeria, several research works (Odekunle et al 2007;Adejuwon 2006;Agwu et al 2012;Bose et al 2014;Mbanasor et al 2015;Babatolu & Akinnubi 2016;Falola & Achem 2017;Jellason et al 2019) have been conducted to understand the levels of awareness and perception of smallholder agricultural workers to climate change/variability issues, as well as studies on associated farm-level coping and adaptation strategies employed by farmers. Agricultural adaptation studies to climate variability aims at developing appropriate coping mechanisms to address the negative impacts of climate variability of the livelihoods of farmers and households (Zeirvogel et al 2008).…”

“…Agricultural adaptation studies to climate variability aims at developing appropriate coping mechanisms to address the negative impacts of climate variability of the livelihoods of farmers and households (Zeirvogel et al 2008). At the farm level in Nigeria, Bose et al (2014) reported that farmers in southwest Nigeria had perceived changes in the climate parameters through the decrease in rainfall pattern, increase in pest infestation in both crops and animals, heavy loss of pasture land and premature ripening of crops (Tambo & Abdoulaye 2013), while in the northern part, through increased temperature, unpredictable, erratic, heavy and increased rainfall, late-onset and early retreat of rains (Babatolu & Akinnubi, 2016;Falola & Achem 2017;Jellason et al 2019).…”

Effects of Demographic Characteristics for Farmers’ to Climate Change in Bunkure, Nigeria

“…This results suggest that, the farmers were still in their active/productive age and as such they can understand and experience the effects of climate change and adaptive strategies. The modal age bracket or group of farmers between 21-50 years according to [18] are considered to be active/productive age in farming activities. Participation of youth in agriculture in Nigeria is due to the high level of agricultural apathy by the youth as suggested in the studies on youths' participation in agriculture in Nigeria conducted by [19,20].…”

Tillage Systems and Fertilization for Increase of Yam’s Local Tuber (Dioscorea esculenta) on Farming System at Moluccas

“…Elijah et al (2018) asserted that climate change is no longer a trivial issue, it is a reality that is seriously affecting the earth already, especially challenging agricultural productivity and food security in both developed and developing economies of the world and thus requires urgent attention. Similarly, Falola & Achem (2017) posited that climate change is gradually attaining a catastrophic dimension given the associated impacts in the various key socio-economic sectors in recent time.…”