ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OF ARABLE CROP FARMERS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY: IMPLICATIONS AND PROSPECTS ON FOOD PRODUCTION IN OVIA NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Arable Crop, Climate Change, Variability, Food Production and FarmersAbstract
This study examined the adaptation strategies adopted by arable crop farmers for climate change and variability, their implications, and their prospects on food crop production in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Survey research design was used, and the study population was 430 food crop farmers. 207 respondents were selected using the simple random sampling (SRS) technique, and a questionnaire was administered to them by the researchers. The instrument was validated by one expert from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, and the other from the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin. The reliability of the instrument was done using Spearman-Brownreliability computation which yielded a co-ef icient of 0.78. The data collected was analyzed usingfrequencycount, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings of this study revealed that thereissuf icient knowledge of arable crop farming on climate change and variability in Edo State, the impact ofclimate change which includes decrease in the production of food crops, changes in planting and harvest time,reduction in crop yield and income of farmers, increase in the rate of disease during the excess rainfall. This study also revealed various adaptation strategies available to arable crop farmers, which are; the use of improved and resistant crop variables, the use of alternative fallow/tillage practices, the varying planting dates and times. Lastly, this study reveals the implications and prospects of these adaptation strategies for food production in Edo State which includes; continuous food production by arable food farmers, improved nutrients use efficiency of arable crops, reduced green-house gas emission, among others. This study recommended, among others, that the government should make improved and resistant crop varieties available to arable crop farmers so as to increase their agricultural productivity.References
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