Determinants Of Climate Change Adaptation Measures Used By Crop And Livestock Farmers In Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified socioeconomic determinants of climate change adaptation measures used by crop and livestock farmers in Southeast Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and sixty farmers from the population. Data was collected using structured interview schedule, structured questionnaire, focused group discussion and personal observation while analysis was done using descriptive statistical tools and ordinary least square multiple regression analysis. Result from the analysis showed that out of the 160 respondents that were interviewed in this study, 57% were male, 86.4% were above 40 years of age, 95% were married. It was also shown that 70% had at least secondary school education, 88.8% earned monthly income of less than N50, 000 while 84.4% had above ten years of farming experience. Majority (66.3%) of the farmers maintained an average household size of 6-10, 82.5% have farming as their major occupation with 70.6% having a farm size of less than 1 hectare and 71.2% practicing mixed farming. Both sales and consumption (68.8%) were their major aim of production. the major crops cultivated were cassava, yam, maize, vegetables and plantain/banana while the animals reared are poultry birds and goats. The Varimax rotated factor analysis identified eight major adaptation measures used by farmers in the study area. The ordinary least square regression analysis identified seven socioeconomic determinants of adaptation measures used by farmers in the study area. Based on the results of the study, vital recommendations that will improve the adaptive capacity of the crop and livestock farmers were made.