Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Crop Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural production, particularly among smallholder farmers who depend largely on rain-fed agriculture. This study examined the socio economic characteristics of smallholder crop farmers and the adaptation strategies adopted in response to changing climatic conditions in Imo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 farmers, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that 56.7% of the respondents were female, with a mean age of 54.5 years. Most farmers had primary education (46.7%), were married (73.3%), had a mean household size of six persons, and possessed an average farming experience of 26.7 years. The mean farm size was 0.66 ha, indicating predominance of smallholder farming. Adaptation strategies adopted included early planting (37.1%), zero tillage (14.4%), mixed cropping (12.0%), and use of hybrid varieties (12.0%). The study concludes that farmers predominantly rely on low-cost agronomic adaptation measures. Strengthening extension services and improving access to climate-smart technologies are essential for enhancing farmers’ adaptive capacity.