EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG RICE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The effect of climate change has impacted negatively on agriculture. This study focused on the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on food security among rice farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria. It described the socio economic characteristics of rice farming households; determined the food security status of rice farming households; examined the main determinants of food security status; identified rice farmers’ climate change adaptation strategies and determined the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on food security status of rice farming households. A total of 118 respondents were identified through a multistage sampling proceedure, on which well-structured questionnaire was administered. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security index, probit regression analysis and logistic regression model. The results of the analysis from the study showed that majority (91%) of the respondents were male, 89.8% were married and 93.2% were educated. The mean household size of rice farmers was 7 persons and 33.9% of the respondents earned between ₦50,001and ₦75,000 with the average total income per month as ₦74,872. The results of the analysis of food security status revealed that 45.8% of the respondents were food secured while, 54.2% were food insecured. Food secured households had a mean monthly household estimated income of ₦75,664 and mean monthly expenditure on food of ₦29,326; while food insecured households had a mean monthly estimated income of ₦73,935 and mean monthly expenditure on food of ₦28,494. Years of Farming experience was positively related to food security status while age and household size were inversely related. Some of the adaptation strategies employed to cope with climate change were changing planting and harvesting dates, multiple cropping, conservation tillage, planting tolerant crop varieties and engagement in other sources of income. The logistic regreression analysis revealed that age, years of farming experience, access to extension services and membership of agricultural association had a relationship with choice of adaptation strategies to climate change. Probit regression analysis showed that farmers’ use of adaptation strategies results in an increase in food security. Therefore, there is an effect of climate change adaptation strategies on food security. Existing policies in food crop production should be reviewed, farmers’ agricultural education introduced and agricultural incentives provided to farmers to help boost farm productivity with a resultant increase in food output and food security in the study area.