EATING TODAY AND TOMORROW: EXPLORING INDIGENOUS FARMING SYSTEMS OF SMALLHOLDER ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Indigenous farming systems have been able to sustain agriculture in Nigeria before the introduction of Western systems of farming which have brought changes to the farming systems and rural economy. This study assesses the use of indigenous farming systems by smallholder arable crop farmers with a view to providing sustainable rural economy. Quantitative data were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule from the farmers in derived savannah of Osun State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data while multinomial logit, and farming system index were used to determine the sustainable indigenous farming systems that thrives during change in climate and their extent of use. Results showed that the mean age of farmers was 48+or-5 years. The mean farming experience was 22+or-3 years with more male farmers and extension contacts. Farming system index revealed that indigenous farming systems used by arable crop farmers include; different planting dates, planting of different varieties, multiple cropping, shifting cultivation, cereal and legume intercrop and mulching among others. Irrigation and zero tillage were the least practices among the farmers. Multinomial logit analysis showed that; Different planting dates, multiple cropping, mulching and shifting cultivation were positively significant with age of the farmers at P