Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Used by Fish Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The objectives were to determine factors influencing fish farmers’ adoption of climate change adaptation strategies; identify the adaptation strategies used, and; identify the constraints affecting fish production in the area study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 215 respondents. Primary data were obtained through questionnaire complemented by structured interview schedules and analysed using Poisson regression, mean, and percentages. Findings revealed that household size (−0.0558), sex (0.0587), fishing experience (0.1389), distance to market (−0.0100), perception of climate change effects (0.0185), extension contact (0.2233), and household income (0.0000) significantly influenced adoption of adaptation strategies. Commonly adopted adaptation strategies were installation of shading structures over ponds (88.4%), use of weather forecast information for planning (87.4%), and management of water temperature (86.0%). Furthermore, age (0.0044), years of education (−0.0039), access to credit (0.0006), cooperative membership (0.00002), and household income (0.00000) were significantly related to the response measures adopted by the farmers. In conclusion, fish farmers employed multiple strategies to mitigate climate change impacts and the study recommends that government and research institutions should develop an integrated adaptation frameworks combining environmental, technological and managerial approaches to enhance resilience and sustainability in aquaculture systems.