Rice farmers strategies in adapting to climate change in Kaduna state of Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to analyze adaptation strategies employed by farmers in meeting the adverse effect of climate change on rice production. Primary data were collected from 135 respondents selected from 7 villages with the aid of questionnaire and data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and tobit regression model. The result revealed that majority of the respondents (98.9%) believed that climate change is experienced as a result of God's punishment because of evil act. The coping strategies, included, changing of cultivation area (85.6%), systemize irrigation (68.8%) and the use of chemicals (64.4%). While preventive strategies employed includes early sowing (72.2%), the provision of weather and climate information to farmers (72.2%) and early harvesting (65.5%). However, the farmers also mitigate the adverse effect of climate change by selecting the cultivars that are resistance to climate change (27.8%) and crop diversification for farmers at greater risk. Adaptation strategies employed by the rice farmers are determined by household and farm size (1% level of significant), age and farming experience (5% level of significant), and extension services (10% level of significant). The most critical constraints for rice farmers are lack of access to credit facilities and inadequate extension services. It was recommended that the rice farmers in the study area should increase the area of farmland cultivated for rice production to mitigate against the consequences of climate change effect in the area.