Use of Soil Conservation Practices for Climate Change Adaptation among Arable Crop Farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined farmers’ use of soil conservation practices as strategies for climate change adaptation in Cross River State, Nigeria. A Multistage random sampling technique was used to draw 180 respondents for the study. Structured interview schedule was used to elicit data for the study while descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. Findings from the study revealed that all the respondents were aware of mulching (100%) and majority were aware of planting of cover crops (98.3%) and organic fertilizer (98.3%) among other SCP while some of the frequently utilized soil conservation practices were found to be mulching (mean – 2.95), mixed cropping (mean – 2.85), shifting cultivation (mean – 2.83), planting of cover crops (mean - 2.63) among other SCP. Population pressure on land ranked highest (mean = 2.64) as the most serious constraint to the use of soil conservation practices followed by effect of urbanization (mean = 2.53). The study concludes that arable crop farmers are aware of and are utilizing various soil conservation practices suitable to their local needs to cushion the impacts of climate change and recommends enactment of a law by governments that allows for localization of land for various purposes in order to reduce population pressure on arable land.