Assessment of constraints to climate change adaptation strategies among rice farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the constraints faced by rice farmers in adapting climate change adaptation strategies. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select sample size of 251 in the study area. In the first stage, Taraba State was stratified into three Agricultural Zones, the second stage involved purposive selection of two Local Government Areas from each of the Agricultural Zones based on high concentration of rice farmers, and the third stage involved selection of two communities from each of the selected Local Government Areas using the random sampling technique. The last stage involved proportional allocation of 10% across board to select the total sample size of 251 respondents. Data were collected by the use of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statististics and factor analysis were used to analysed the data. Based on the findings from factor analysis on the constraints to climate change adaptation strategies in the study area, factors that were highly loaded under socio-economic category were: inadequate capital (0.64), poor access to information (0.42), low level of education (0.71), lack of credit facilities (0.61), low level of awareness (0.60), inadequate extension service delivery (0.61) and high cost of farm inputs (0.77). Factors that were highly loaded under agronomic category were: land tenure system (0.60) and lack of improved agricultural technology (0.54). Under politico-infrastructural category: poor infrastructural facilities (0.66) and absence of government policies on climate change (0.75) were highly loaded. The study concludes that rice farmers in the study area were constrained with inadequate capital and land for farming. Effective and frequent extension services are required for farmers awareness on adaptation strategies. The study recommended that farm inputs should be made available at subsidized rate and at the appropriate time so as to help farmers overcome some of the problems associated with climate change adaptation and extension programs on how to adapt effectively to climate variability should be embarked upon by relevant authorities.