JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND RURAL ECONOMICS
Integrity Research Journals

Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JAERE
Start Year: 2024
Email: jaere@integrityresjournals.org


Determinants of smallholder farmers’ agronomic adaptation strategies to the effects of climate change: Evidence from rice farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.31248/JAERE2024.002   |   Article Number: DCB314DD2   |   Vol.1 (1) - October 2024

Received Date: 26 August 2024   |   Accepted Date: 25 September 2024  |   Published Date: 30 October 2024

Authors:  Fasakin I. J.* , Olajide O. O. , Adu O. E. , Adeoye A. , Olasehinde I. J. , Bolarinwa A.O. , Adewole O. E. , Iwu I. M. and Adewale A. A.

Keywords: Climate change, rice farmers., Adaptation strategies, agronomic, smallholders

Climate change through extreme temperatures, frequent flooding, drought, and increased water supply salinity constitute factors affecting rural households' livelihood and agricultural productivity, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study examines smallholder rice farmers' agronomic climate change adaptation strategies in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study used five agronomic strategies: improved seed, monocropping, shifting cultivation, diversification, and afforestation. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 200 smallholder rice farmers across 4 Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, while descriptive statistics and a Multivariate Probit analysis regression model were used for data analysis. The results showed that about 65% of the respondents were males; the farmers' mean age and household size was 45 years and five members, with 93% being married. The multivariate probit regression shows that climate change agronomic adaptation strategies drivers are marital status, farm size, access to credit, age, education, sex, household size, risk, and livestock index. The study, therefore, recommends that smallholder rice farmers in the study area develop programs to address the specific needs and challenges faced by male and female farmers. Promoting sustainable livestock integration practices by expanding access to affordable credit and strengthening extension services to provide farmers with timely information on agronomic practices, climate-smart agriculture, and market trends is essential. Finally, facilitating market access for farmers' products through infrastructure development, value addition, and marketing support is crucial.

Adeagbo, O. A., Ojo, T. O., & Adetoro, A.A (2021). Understanding the determinants of climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder maize farmers in southwest Nigeria, 7(2), 6-12.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06231
 
Adeagbo, O., Bamire, A., Akinola, A., Adeagbo, A., Oluwole, T., Ojedokun, O., Ojo, T., Kassem, H., & Emenike, C. (2023). The level of adoption of multiple climate change adaptation strategies: Evidence from smallholder maize farmers in Southwest Nigeria. Scientific African, 22, e01971.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01971
 
Adejuwon, S. A. (2004). Impacts of climate variability and climate change on crop yield in Nigeria. Lead Paper Presented at the Stakeholders' Workshop on Assessment of Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change, Conference Center, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 20-21 September, 004.
 
Ajetomobi, J., Abiodun, A., & Hassan, R. (2011). Impacts of climate change on rice agriculture in Nigeria. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 14(2), 613-622.
 
Akinnagbe, O. M., & Irohibe, I. J. (2014). Agricultural Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change Impacts in Africa: A Review. Bangladesh Journal of Agriculture and Resources, 39(3), 407-418
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i3.21984
 
Akinsuyi, Y. (2011). Local Government Intervention: Impact in small-scale farming. This Day Live. Retrieved 4th July 2012 from www.thisdaylive.com
 
Akpodiogaga, P., & Odjugo, O. (2010). General overview of climate change impacts in Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 29(1), 47-55.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2010.11906248
 
Akter, S., Rahman, M. S., Akter, S., Manjira, S., & Beg, T. H. (2023). Factors driving the shifting of land from rice to aquaculture farming in Bangladesh. Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, 70(4), 369-377.
https://doi.org/10.17306/J.JARD.2023.01719
 
Amare, A., & Simane, B. (2017). Determinants of smallholder farmers' decision to adopt adaptation options to climate change and variability in the Muger Sub basin of the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia. Agriculture & Food Security, 6, Article number 64.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0144-2
 
Atube, F., Malinga, G. M., Nyeko, M., Okello, D. M., Alarakol, S. P., & Okello-Uma, I. (2021). Determinants of smallholder farmers' adaptation strategies to the effects of climate change: Evidence from northern Uganda. Agriculture & Food Security, 10(1), 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-020-00279-1
 
Ayinde, O. E., Ojehomon, V. E. T., Daramola, F. S., & Falaki, A. A. (2013). Evaluation of the effects of climate change on rice production in Niger State, Nigeria. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 6(Supplement), 763-773
https://doi.org/10.4314/ejesm.v6i6.7S
 
Banful, A. B., Nkonya, E., Oboh, V. (2010). Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria. International Food Policy Research Institute. 2010.
 
Begho, T., & Begho, M. O. (2023). The occupation of last resort? Determinants of farming choices of small farmers in Nigeria. International Journal of Rural Management, 19(2), 298-318.
https://doi.org/10.1177/09730052221091343
 
Belderbos, R., Carree, M., Diederen, B., Lokshin, B., & Veugelers, R. (2004). Heterogeneity in R&D cooperation strategies. International journal of industrial organization, 22(8-9), 1237-1263.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijindorg.2004.08.001
 
Below, T., Artner, A., Siebert, R., & Seiber, S. (2010). Micro-level practices to adapt to climate change for African small-scale farmers: a review of selected literature, vol. 953. IFPRI Discuss Paper. p. 28.
 
Chauvin, N. D., Mulangu, F., & Porto, G. (2012). Food production and consumption trends in sub-Saharan Africa: Prospects for the transformation of the agricultural sector. UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa: New York, NY, USA, 2(2), 74.
 
Danso-Abbeam, G., Ojo, T. O., Baiyegunhi, L. J., & Ogundeji, A. A. (2021). Climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Nigeria: does non-farm employment play any role? Heliyon, 7(6), e07162.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07162
 
Deressa, T. T. (2007). Measuring the economic impact of climate change on Ethiopian agriculture: Ricardian approach. The World Bank; 2007.
https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-4342
 
Dutta, G., Paramanik, B., Bhabai, B., Layek, J., Choudhury, A., Dutta, S., Bhattacharjee, S., & Rahman, F. H. (2024). Climate change Impacts and adaptation Strategies for agronomic crops. In Advances in global change research (pp. 383-404).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7935-6_14
 
Fadina, A. M. R., & Barjolle, D. (2018). Farmers' adaptation strategies to climate change and their implications in the Zou Department of South Benin. Environments, 5(1), 15.
https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5010015
 
Fasakin, I. J., & Popoola, O. O. (2019). Agriculture Co-operative Associations, Livelihood Income and Rural Households Welfare in Osun State, Nigeria. Greener journal of agricultural sciences, 9(2), 180-188.
https://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2019.2.030419043
 
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2011). Agricultural Transformation Agenda: We Will Grow Nigeria's Agricultural Sector; Federal Government of Nigeria: Abuja, Nigeria.
 
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2016). The Agricultural Promotion Policy (2016-2020): Building on the Successes of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), Closing Key Gaps; Federal Government of Nigeria Policy and Strategy Document: Abuja, Nigeria.
 
Feinstein, N. W., & Mach, K. J. (2019). Three roles for education in climate change adaptation. Climate Policy, 20(3), 317-322.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2019.1701975
 
Fisher-Vanden, K., Wing, I. S., Lanzi, E., & Popp, D. (2011). Modeling climate change adaptation: Challenges, recent developments and future directions. Boston University, Mimeographed paper.
 
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (2006). Livelihood Adaptation to climate variability and change in drought-prone areas of Bangladesh, Rome, Italy. p. 97.
 
Fosu-Mensah, B. Y., Vlek, P. L., & MacCarthy, D. S. (2012). Farmers' perception and adaptation to climate change: a case study of Sekyedumase district in Ghana. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14, 495-505.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9339-7
 
Gebre, G. G., Isoda, H., Amekawa, Y., & Nomura, H. (2019, September). Gender differences in the adoption of agricultural technology: The case of improved maize varieties in southern Ethiopia. In Women's studies international forum (Vol. 76, p. 102264). Pergamon.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2019.102264
 
Grados, D., Kraus, D., Haas, E., Butterbach-Bahl, K., Olesen, J. E., & Abalos, D. (2024). Common agronomic adaptation strategies to climate change may increase soil greenhouse gas emission in Northern Europe. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 349, 109966.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2024.109966
 
Greene, W. H. (2008). Econometric Analysis. 6th (International) edition, Upper Saddle River, N.J., USA: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
 
Harvey, C. A., Rakotobe, Z. L., Rao, N. S., Dave, R., Razafimahatratra, H., Rabarijohn, R. H., ... & MacKinnon, J. L. (2014). Extreme vulnerability of smallholder farmers to agricultural risks and climate change in Madagascar. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1639), 20130089.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0089
 
Kakumanu, K. R., Kuppanan, P., Ranganathan, C. R., Shalander, K., & Amare, H. (2016). Assessment of risk premium in farm technology adoption as a climate change adaptation strategy in the dryland systems of India. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 8(5), 689-717.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-10-2015-0149
 
Kaliba, A. R., Mazvimavi, K., Gregory, T. L., Mgonja, F. M., & Mgonja, M. (2018). Factors affecting adoption of improved sorghum varieties in Tanzania under information and capital constraints. Agricultural and Food Economics, 6, article number 18.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-018-0114-4
 
Kamara, A., Conteh, A., Rhodes, E. R., & Cooke, R. A. (2019). The relevance of smallholder farming to African agricultural growth and development. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 19(1), 14043-14065.
https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.84.BLFB1010
 
Kassie, M., Jaleta, M., Shiferaw, B., Mmbando, F., & Mekuria, M. (2013). Adoption of interrelated sustainable agricultural practices in smallholder systems: Evidence from rural Tanzania. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 80(3), 525-540.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2012.08.007
 
Knox, J., Hess, T., Daccache, A., & Wheeler, T. (2012). Climate change impacts crop productivity in Africa and South Asia. Environmental Resources Letter, 7(3), 32-45
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/3/034032
 
Komba, C., & Muchapondwa, E. (2015) Adaptation to Climate Change by Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania. Discussion Paper Series, Environment for Development (EfD) 15-12.
 
Lin, C. T. J., Jensen, K. L., & Yen, S. T. (2005). Awareness of foodborne pathogens among US consumers. Food Quality and Preference, 16(5), 401-412.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2004.07.001
 
Manneh, B., Kiepe, P., Sie, M., Ndjiondjop, M., Drame, N. K., Traore, K., Rodenburg, J., Somado, E. A., Narteh, L., Youm, O., & Futakuchi, K. (2007). Exploiting partnerships in research and development to help African rice farmers cope with climate variability. ICRISAT, 4(1), 2-6.
 
Medugu, N. I., Rafee Majid, M., & Johar, F. (2011). Drought and desertification management in arid and semi-arid zones of Northern Nigeria. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 22(5), 595-611.
https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831111159725
 
Mgbenka, R. N., Mbah, E. N., & Ezeano, C. I. (2016). A review of smallholder farming in Nigeria: Need for transformation. International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Studies, 3(2), 43-54.
 
Mohamud, Y. A., Marof, A. A., Mohamed, A. M., & Ali, A. M. (2023). The role of agriculture in economic development in Somalia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(17), 103-111.
https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i17/19827
 
Mulwa, C., Marenya, P., & Kassie, M. (2017). Response to climate risks among smallholder farmers in Malawi: A multivariate probit assessment of the role of information, household demographics, and farm characteristics. Climate Risk Management, 16, 208-221.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2017.01.002
 
Nagayet, O. (2005) Small farms: Current status and key trends. In: The future of small farms: Proceedings of a Research Workshop, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC/ Pp. 355-367.
 
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2012). Annual Abstracts of Statistics, Abuja, Nigeria.
 
Ndamani, F., & Watanabe, T. (2016). Determinants of farmers' adaptation to climate change: A micro level analysis in Ghana. Scientia Agricola, 73(3), 201-208.
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-9016-2015-0163
 
Ndiritu, S. W., Kassie, M., & Shiferaw, B. (2012). Adoption of agricultural technologies in Kenya: How does gender matter? A paper presented at the 28th International Conference of Agricultural Economist in the Global Bio-Economy Rafain Convection Centre - Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil between August 18 - 24, 2012
 
Niang, I., Ruppel, O. C., Abdrabo, M. A., Essel, A., Lennard, C., Padgham, J., & Urquhart, P. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1199-1265. Retrieved 29th April 2017 from https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg2/WGIIAR5-Chap22_FINAL.pdf.
 
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (2017). 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction. - Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Abuja.
 
Norton, R. D., & Hazell, P.B. (1986). Mathematical programming for economic analysis in agriculture. Collier Macmillan, London.
 
Ojo, T., & Baiyegunhi, L. (2016). Determinants of adaptation strategies to climate change among rice farmers in Southwestern Nigeria: A Multivariate Probit Approach. Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics, Article number 565.
 
Onyeneke, R. U., Nwajiuba, C. A., Emenekwe, C. C., Nwajiuba, A., Onyeneke, C. J., Ohalete, P., & Uwazie, U. I. (2019). Climate change adaptation in Nigerian agricultural sector: A systematic review and resilience check of adaptation measures. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 4(4), 967-1006.
https://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2019.4.967
 
Osanyinlusi, O. I., & Adenegan, K. O. (2016). The determinants of rice farmers' productivity in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences 6(2), 49-58.
https://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2016.2.122615174
 
Roehr, U. (2007). Gender, climate change and adaptation. Introduction to the gender dimensions. Background paper prepared for Both Ends briefing paper Adapting to climate change: How local experiences can shape the debate", Berlin, Genanet, August 2007.
 
Röhr, U., & Sauer, A. (2018). How can gender equality and its interdependencies with other social categories contribute to a successful climate policy? A research project about interdependent options for the improved design of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in Germany. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Equality and Diversity: An International Journal, 4(1).
 
Sarka, S., Woldeyohannes, D., & Woldesilasie, A. (2017). Value chain analysis of cassava in Wolaita Zone, snnpr, Ethiopia. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 8(5), 11-17.
 
Seo, S. N., & Mendelsohn, R. (2008). A Ricardian analysis of the impact of climate change on South American farms. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research, 68(1), 69-79.
https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-58392008000100007
 
Sertoglu, K., Ugural, S., & Bekun, F. V. (2017). The contribution of agricultural sector on economic growth of Nigeria. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 7(1), 547-552.
 
Teklewold, H., Kassie, M., & Shiferaw, B. (2013). Adoption of multiple sustainable agricultural practices in rural Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 64(3), 597-623.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12011
 
Umar, S., Musa, M. W., & Kamsang, L. (2014). Determinants of adoption of improved maize varieties among resource-poor households in Kano and Katsina States, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 18(2), 196-205.
https://doi.org/10.4314/jae.v18i2.20
 
United States Department of Agriculture (2022). Grain and Feed Annual [Grain and Feed]. Retrieved from https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Annual_Lagos_Nigeria_NI2022-0005.pdf
 
Wassmann, R., Butterbach-Bahl, K., & Dobermann, A. (2007). Irrigated rice production systems and greenhouse gas emissions: crop and residue management trends, climate change impacts and mitigation strategies. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 2, 4-14.
https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR20072004
 
Yakubu, D. A., & Oladele, O. I. (2021). Determinants of use of climate change adaptation practices by rice farmers in Kebbi state, North-west Nigeria. The Problem of World Agriculture, 21(1), 52-69.
https://doi.org/10.22630/PRS.2021.21.1.4