Factors Influencing Choice of Climate Change Adaptation Methods among Underutilized Indigenous Vegetable farmers

Abstract

ABSTRACT The reality of the changing climate is that resource-poor Underutilized Indigenous Vegetable (UIV) farmers have to adapt, but their awareness and perception of climate change is not known. It is not clear if the use of UIVs is a viable adaptation option. Respondents for the study were selected from three states in Nigeria where the International Development Research Corporation funded a project on UIVs. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 200 UIV farmers using the IDRC sampling through questionnaires. Although most (>90%) respondents perceive and are aware of, climate change, fewer (76%) are aware of the expediency of cultivation of UIVs as an adaptation to climate change. Level of education and perception, positively influenced the choice of adaptation method, extension visits, and source of information negatively influenced the choice. The use of UIV cultivation is an affordable and profitable adaptation to climate change.