Factors Limiting Adaptation to Climate Change among Farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out in Taraba State, Nigeria to identify factors limiting adaptation to climate change among farmers. Questionnaire/interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of 90 respondents used for the study. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. Results show that radio (72.2%) and fellow farmers (58.9%) were major sources of information on climate change available to farmers. Effects of climate change were reduces body weight of livestock (M = 2.80), causes stunted growth of crops (M = 2.77), reduction in farm income/revenue (M = 2.61), increases pests/diseases infestation (M = 2.46), late fruiting of fruit trees (M = 2.41), drying of seedlings after germination and transplanting (M = 2.39), drying of streams/rivers (M = 2.38), low yield of crop/crop failure (M = 2.33), reduces feed intake of livestock (M = 2.31), easy loss of water from the soil (M = 2.31), among others. Major constraints to climate change adaptation measures include poor access to information relevant to adaptation (M = 3.68), inadequate financial resources (M = 3.51), high cost of farm inputs such as fertilizer (M = 3.50), poverty (M = 3.31), limited access to improved livestock breeds (M = 3.29), high cost of improved crop varieties (M = 3.27), lack of access to weather forecast (M = 3.21), lack of access to improved crop varieties (M = 3.21), etc. The study recommends the need for relevant agencies such as meteorological agencies and other government agencies to employ the use of mass media such as radio and/or television in disseminating information on climate change effects and mitigation strategies to farmers and highlights that efforts of the Nigerian government is highly needed in providing farm inputs such as fertilizer, improved seeds and chemicals to small-scale farmers at subsidized rate and at appropriate time through a well-coordinated system in order to boost productivity.