Impact of climate change, variability and adaptation strategies on agriculture in semi-arid region

Abstract

This study objectives intended to examine the farmer’s perceptions of climate change variability, assess the adaptation strategies employed for agricultural production, and examine the impact of climate change variability on agricultural production in northern Nigeria. A total of 100 randomly sampled respondents were selected to participate in the study. The findings show that there is widespread knowledge on the severity of climate change, and its impact is largely negative on both crop and livestock production. The study also found out that various adaptation mechanisms have been adopted in both crop and livestock production to deal with the effects of climate change, and that the adopted mechanisms are largely believed to be effective. The study also found out that a number of impacts of climate change variability are felt by farmers all around the country and the state specifically, which require urgent institutional support in implementing the mechanisms for adaptation to climate change in Kaduna state, Nigeria. The study concluded that people understand the existence of climate change and its long-term impact on their livelihood, and also understand the need for adaptation. It also concluded that local farmers have adopted a number of effective mechanisms to deal with the impact of climate change. It also concluded that the impact climate change is felt by all farmers and it affects agricultural production and threatens food security. The study recommended that government should engage rural smallholder farmers, non-governmental organizations and civil society in this effort, and that it should encourage local mechanisms in order to ensure sustainability of the adaptation efforts.