Analysis of the Effect of Climate Change Adaptation Measures Used by Cassava Farmers in Central Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined an analysis of the effect of climate change adaptation measures used by cassava farmers in a central agricultural zone, Cross River State, Nigeria. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 141 Cassava farmers who participated in the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a logit model. Adaptation measures and barriers to adaptation were captured using a four (4) point Likert scale, while the data on socio-economic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency, while hypothesis one was tested using a logit regression model and hypothesis two was tested using Chi-square x2. The findings show that (74.80/0) of the respondents were between the ages of 31 years and above. The majority of the respondents were males (50.10/0), while 480/0 of them were females and were mainly dominated by the married class (50.30/0). The study reveals that the major cause of climate change in the study area is bush burning, which was ranked first; using agricultural chemicals was ranked second; and deforestation was ranked third, respectively. While the climate change effects were reducing rainfall, was ranked first pest and disease outbreaks and drought were ranked second and third, respectively, as the most adverse effects caused by climate change in the study area. The study also shows that farmers have been able to carry out some adaptation measures to combat the effect of climate change, such as the use of improved cassava varieties, the use of green manure, early planting, change of planting date, change of harvesting date and tillage. It was also revealed that the barriers associated with climate change mitigation include lack of access to weather forecast technology, inadequate finance to cope with the changing climate, and lack of cassava varieties that are adaptable to low rainfall. The result of the Chi-square x2 test on the relationship between the effect of climate change and the adaptive measures used by cassava farmers in the study area shows that x2 values of 287.3 of the effect of climate change on cassava production are greater than the tabulated value of 0.0922. The result, therefore, indicates that there is a significant relationship between the effect of climate change and the adaptive measures used by cassava farmers. The positive sign associated with the variables in the logit regression model improved varieties of cassava stem, green manure, early planting, and mulching would increase cassava yield. It was recommended that policy-makers formulate policies that will strengthen climate adaptation in the study area.