Micro-level analysis of determinants of crop farmers’ adaptation intensity to environmental degradation in Orlu Agricultural Zone, Imo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analysed determinants of intensity of crop farmers’ adaptation measures to environmental degradation in Orlu agricultural zone, Imo State. The study adopted the multistage random sampling and convenient sampling techniques in the selection of respondents. The main tool for data collection is the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression model. Majority (94.00%) of the farmers declared that the major cause of environmental degradation in the area was erosion. Also, another greater proportion of the farmers (84.00%) reported that flood is a major cause of environmental degradation in the area. Mulching was the most commonlyused adaptation method identified by the farmers (78.00%). The result from the regression analysis indicate that the determinants of intensity to environmental degradation adaptation measures by crop farmers were their age, gender, educational level, membership to farmer groups, income, experience, household size, and farm size. Majority of farmers (60.00%)were constrained with inadequate information on appropriate adaptation option and 56.00% were constrained with inadequate capital. These analyses of adaptation and the factors that influence the intensity of adaptation to environmental degradation for crop production in Orlu agricultural zone, Imo State suggest that a number of different policy options must be pursued to achieve farmers’ effective adaptation.Keywords: environmental degradation, causes, adaptation measure, adaptation intensity, determinants, constraints