Correlates and determinants of climate change adaptation strategies of food crop farmers in Oke-Ogun area of South-western Nigeria

Abstract

Information on determinants of climate change adaptation strategies in Oke-ogun area, the food basket of South western Nigeria is scarce. Determinants of adaptation strategies to climate change among food crop farmers in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State were therefore assessed. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 160 food crop farmers, and data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule. Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), and Multiple Linear Regression were used in data analysis. Mono-cropping practices (χ2 = 14.213), access to extension services (χ2 = 6.201) and credit facilities (χ2 = 8.077) had significant relationship with respondents’ level of climate change adaptation strategies. Farm size (r = 0.232), level of awareness (r = 0.199), information exposure (r = 0.205) constraints to climate change adaptation strategies (r = -0.228) and perception (r = 0.319) also had significant relationship with level of adaptation strategies. Farm size (β = 0.259), perception of climate and effects (β = 0.257), constraints to adaptation to climate change effects (β = -0.118) were the three most important determinants of climate change adaptation strategies of food crop farmers. Agricultural extension activities should intensify awareness creation, while it also provides solutions to all climate change adaptation related constraints. Key word: Perception, climate change, awareness, information exposure, constraints to adaptation.