PERCEIVED EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES OF ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN OSUN STATE.

Abstract

The need to examine the perceived effect of climate change on production activities of arable crop farmers in Ondo State necessitated this study. The specific objective were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of arable crop farmers in the study area, determine other income generating activities of arable crop farmers and to examine the perceived effects of climate change on other income generating activities of arable farmers. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 135 respondents from the study area while data were obtained from the respondents with the aid of an interview schedule and the data were analysed using descriptive (such as frequency count, graphs and charts) and inferential statistics (Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation) 66.7 of the respondents were male, 66.4 were married, 52.7 had more than twenty years of farming experience, 41.2 had no formal education, 68.9 cultivated less than 2.5 hectares, 40.8 had an annual income of less than N100,000, 22.9 were involved in livestock production. Findings also showed that 40.9% of the respondents identified a general effect of climate change on their farm as delayed time of planting and 37% identified reduction of market value, reduction in farmers income and reduction in quality and quantity of farm produce as the damage caused by climate change. About 21% used reforestation and afforestation as coping strategies to mitigate the effect of climate change while 81.2% identified multiple cropping as an indigenous adaptive strategies. 29.7% encountered inadequate rainfall, facilities and implements as the main problems encountered by arable crop farmers. Chi-square result showed that there was a significant relationship between the perceived effects of climate change and the age (x 2 =1.54, P<0.05) marital status (x 2 =1.95, P<0.05) Income (x 2 =30.06, P<0.05) Religion of the Respondents (x 2 =1.50, P<0.05) level of Education (x 2 =13.18, P<0.05) and their household size (x 2 =18.8, P<0.05). Chi- square result showed a significant relationship between age (x 2 =1.54, P<0.05), level of education (x 2 =129.1, P<0.05) and the farmer’s household size (x 2 =1.88, P<0.05) and the factors affecting the coping strategies adopted by arable farmers. The result of correlation matrix of perceived effect of climate change and other income generating activities of arable farmers that only exposure mass media has helped arable crop farmers to have knowledge of climate change (EMM) was significant with other income generating activities of arable crop farmers (r = 0.002). The study concluded that the effect of climate change on production activities of arable crop farmers in Osun State was well perceived that there is an unfavourable effect of climate change on their agricultural production. The study recommends that extension services should be tailored towards improving the coping strategies orientation among arable crop farmers in Osun State.