Effect of Climate Change on Sustainability of Cassava Production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Over time, climate change has negatively influenced cassava production affecting yield and output of farmers. This has also affected the economic returns from cassava farming. A total of 78 cassava farmers were drawn using purposive sampling technique. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and ordinary least square multiple regression model. Results shows that majority of the cassava farmers were male (67.9%), married (56.4%), experienced (70.5%) with a productive age of 55 years. Majority of the cassava farmers, (55.1%) perceived that cassava production in the area was highly sustainable as against 17.9% of the cassava farmers that differed. The identified climate change hazards on cassava production were decreased cassava yield (61.5%), reduced income (97.4%), land degradation (84.6%), increased pest and disease problems (65.4%), drought and water scarcity (88.5%), and increased production costs (97.4%). Temperature (P<0.01), rainfall (P<0.01), and number of rainy days (P<0.05) impacted cassava production negatively, while sunshine hours (P<0.05), and relative humidity (P<0.01) positively impacted cassava production. Insufficient planting materials (98.7%), soil fertility issues (91.0%), insufficient or irregular rainfall (89.7%), limited access to credit or financial resources (87.2%), high costs of inputs (100%), and low yields (75.6%) constrained cassava production in the area. Farmers should seek early climate change information from nearest metrological centers in their locality to mitigate adverse effects of climate change on cassava production.