Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability Among Maize Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study examined the adaptation strategies employed by maize farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria, in response to climate variability and the constraints affecting their production. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 234 maize farmers, and data were collected through structured question...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mercy Matthew, Enan Timothy, Elizabeth Olorunshola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Agricultural Extension
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Online Access:https://journal.aesonnigeria.org/index.php/jae/article/view/5421
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Summary:This study examined the adaptation strategies employed by maize farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria, in response to climate variability and the constraints affecting their production. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 234 maize farmers, and data were collected through structured questionnaires. Findings revealed that the most significant constraints were limited access to credit (85.5% strongly agreed), high labour costs (89.3%), and rising input prices (55.1%). Additionally, poor access to climate information was reported by 49.2% of respondents as a challenge. Climate change was found to affect maize production through increased storm frequency ( 4.72), rising crop disease incidence ( 4.44), and higher production costs ( 4.52). The most commonly adopted adaptation strategies were fertilizer application ( 3.75) and the use of improved maize varieties ( 2.97), while irrigation ( 1.69) and organic manure use ( 1.30) were less frequently employed. The study highlights the importance of access to credit, reliable climate information, and strengthened extension services (with 73.5% of farmers having access) to enhance resilience. The study recommends promoting underutilized but climate-resilient practices to improve maize productivity in the State.
ISSN:1119-944X
2408-6851