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Apr 30, 2026Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Influence of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on the Yield of Selected Food Crops among Farmers in Southeast Nigeria
Abstract
There has been increasing concern over declining food crop productivity in Nigeria due to the adverse effects of climate change (CC), among smallholder farmers, due to over-dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Although farmers adopted CC adaptation strategies (AD), the extent of their influence on crop yield has not been well documented. Thus, the influence of CC adaptation strategies on the yield of maize, rice, and cassava in Southeast Nigeria was examined. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. Three states were purposively selected based on their prominence in maize, rice, and cassava production. A total of 297 respondents were surveyed. Primary data on farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, adaptation strategies (AD), and crop yields were collected with structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, composite index, and Ordinary Least Squares regression atα=0.05. AD was categorized into high, medium, and low levels using a composite index. The majority of maize (61.75%) and rice (51.60%) farmers were in the medium adaptation category, while cassava farmers clustered in the medium (55.20%) category. The regression models had high explanatory power (R²=0.93 for rice, 0.95 for maize, and 0.84 for cassava). Farm size (β=2369.5 for rice; β=2636.9 for maize; β=2493.7 for cassava, p<0.001) and fertilizer application (β=17.1 for rice; β=3.8 for maize; β=3.4 for cassava, p<0.01) significantly increased yield across all crops. Farming experience significantly influenced rice (β=256.5, p<0.01) and maize (β=51.8, p<0.01). Improved varieties increased yield for maize (β=725.2, p<0.01), rice (β=554.5, p<0.10), and cassava (β=29.1, p<0.05). Irrigation significantly influenced rice yield (β=1125.9, p<0.05), while soil conservation practices increased yield for rice (β=20.9, p<0.05) and cassava (β=20.9, p<0.05). Climate change AD significantly influenced crop productivity, with varied effects across crops. The study recommends increased access to improved inputs, investment in irrigation infrastructure, promotion of climate-resilient technologies, and strengthening of extension services to enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity and yield.
