Determinants of climate change adaption among cocoa farmers in southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Cocoa production in Nigeria is vulnerable to climate change. This study analyzed the factors influencing different climate change adaptation choices by cocoa farmers in southwest Nigeria. We sampled 515 farmers from three cocoa producing states, using the multistage sampling procedure. We analyzed cocoa farmers' climate change adaptation choices with Probit regression. All the farmers have noticed climate change and 78.72% noted excessive rainfall in 2011. Years of education, age of farmers and cocoa land areas significantly reduces (p<0.10) the probability of engaging in crop diversification. It, however, increases with male headship, household size, member sick, age of cocoa, ownership of radio and bicycle. Also, years of education, number of cocoa farms and cocoa farm distance reduces the chance of noting weather (p<0.10). It also increases with member sick, ownership of radio, car, mobile phone and extension contact. The chance of adequately spraying cocoa pods significantly reduces (p<0.10) with number of cocoa farms and increases with farming as primary occupation, member sick, age of cocoa trees, ownership of radio, motorcycle, car, and mobile phone. We recommended that effort to address climate adaptation among cocoa farmers should be gender sensitive, among others.