Perception of Cassava-Based Farmers to Climate Variability in the Rain Forest and Derived Savannah Biomes of Nigeria
Perception of Cassava-Based Farmers to Climate Variability in the Rain Forest and Derived Savannah Biomes of Nigeria
Adefunke Fadilat O. Ayinde1*, Peter Allison Johnston2, Olanrewaju Olusoji Olujimi3, Purnamita Dasgupta4 and Dare Akerele5
ABSTRACT
Climate variability influences the pattern of agricultural production, especially in those parts of Africa, where agriculture is mainly rain-fed. A disparity exists in how farmers perceive and adapt to climate variability that influences their production decisions and improved livelihoods. We analysed the perception of cassava-based farmers to climate variability in two ecosystems in Nigeria. Climate data (spanning 1951 to 2010) were used to corroborate and evaluate the perceptions of farmers. Four hundred smallholder farmers were interviewed in Ogun State (rain-forest zone) and Kwara State (derived savannah) using a multi-stage sampling technique. Farmers perceived climate variability as unpredictable weather situation over the years (65.41%), though some (23.31%) perceived it as the act of God or the wrath of God (11.28%). In terms of adaptation measures, 63.4% of the respondents had access to the weather forecast, some (55.4%) utilise it, while 58.4% engaged in artisanship (blue-collar jobs) and vegetable production (63.2%). Lessons on adaptation are critical for putting in place, policies that reduce the vulnerability of arable crop farmers to help to achieve sustainable development goals. The State governments should reintroduce the highly adaptable and high yielding TMS 30572 (an improved cassava variety) to farmers, given its inherent capability to withstand cassava mosaic virus disease, extreme weather conditions, and its long gestation period. Government of both states should provide infrastructure support to improve the cassava-based farmers’ adaptive capabilities to climate variability and reduce their vulnerability.
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