Constraints to adoption of climate- smart agricultural practices by yam farmers in Ekiti State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the constraints to adoption of CSAPs by yam farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A multistage-sampling procedure was used in selecting 150 yam-farmers and data were collected with the aid of questionnaire and interview-schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used. The result shows that available used CSAPs are crop rotation (84.7%), mulching (73.3%), early harvesting of yam (70.0%), planting of improved yam set (65.3%), planting cover crops and shade trees (59.3%) and early staking of the yam (58.7%). The majority (86.0%) were aware of CSAPs. The main source of information on CSAPs is extension workers (30.0%), Social Media (22.0%) as well as family members and Radio program (17.0%) among others. The adopted CSAPs are cultivating short-duration yam varieties, mulching, cover cropping, and crop rotation with adaptation index value (KAI) more than the grand index value (0.66 to 0.95). the Chi-square analysis between constraints to adoption and awareness of CSAPs shows a negative relationship with insufficient contact with extension on smart practices (χ2=-123.701), high cost of implementation of climate smart practices on yam (χ2=-112.321), lack of clear understanding of the smart practices on yam production (χ2=-57.649) respectively among others at 1% significant level. Major constraints to adoption are inadequate extension services (0.34), inadequate training on CSAPs (0.29), Inadequate information on CSAPs or Inadequate credit and funding to adopt CSAPs (0.28) among others. It was recommended that all constraints to adoption of CSAPs be contained and mitigated while more awareness campaign on CSAPs be promoted to improved food security.