Vulnerability of Rice Farmers to Climate Change in Kwara State, Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
Abstract
Climate unpredictability and weather extremes are being projected as capable of presenting
additional challenges for farmers currently engaged in the low-technology based food production
systems in sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria. This study assessed rice farming households’
vulnerability to climate change in Kwara State, Nigeria. Primary data, collected from 150
respondents using simple random sampling procedure were analysed employing descriptive statistic
was use to describe the coping strategies adopted and Human Development Index (HDI) was created
to assess vulnerability of rice farmers to climate change. Statistical analyses indicated a
vulnerability assessment index of 0.3001, pointing to a fact that the zone is prone to the adverse
effects of climatic variability. For this reason, the study empirically underscores the need for farmers
to adopt and adapt the planting of drought tolerant and/or early maturing varieties of rice.
Importantly, the capacities of the local communities needs to be strengthened vis-à-vis the
relationship between climate change and crop production. Capacity building at the farm level is
crucial for improving crop, soil and water management, enhancing the demand for and use of better
and more efficient production inputs. Tied to farm-level capacity building is the need to refocus
public agricultural-based institutions towards exposing the rice farmers to effective mitigation
strategies in the wake of climate change, provision of agricultural inputs, expansion of irrigation,
efficient and effective extension service delivery, market development and other forms of necessary
support.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Akanbi, S. U. O., Olatunji, O. S., Oladipo, O. S., Adeyemi, U. T., & Akinyoade, A. (2022). Vulnerability of rice farmers to climate change in Kwara State, Nigeria. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology, 10(2), 374-380.