Coping strategies of farmers to climatic changes in Ibarapa local government area of Oyo State Nigeria

Effects of climate change on agricultural production activities have been variously noted as being severe. Nonetheless, production activities must continue and the farmers must have significant income from farming to sustain their livelihood. This study assessed the coping strategies of farmers to climatic changes in Ibarapa local government. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents. Data collected through interview schedule were analysed using descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential (Chi-square, PPMC and t-test) statistical tools at p=0.05. Result shows that majority (65.0%) of the respondents were males, married (77.5%) with mean age and household size of 44.7 years. Also, most (86.6%) respondents had both primary and secondary education, had 3.6±0.945 persons, respectively and 54.2% had favourable perception of the effect of climate effect on their crop production activities. Coping strategies mostly used to manage the effects of climate change were delayed planting (weighted score=150.8), mono-cropping (134.2) and change in crop pattern (98.4), 55.0% of the respondents used the coping strategies appreciably. Lack of weather forecast facility (weighted score=192.5), lack of appropriate tool and equipment (186.7), low knowledge of climate effect (180.8), lack of adequate extension services (177.5) and lack of information about weather and climate (175.8) were the mostly encountered constraints with the use of coping strategies to manage climate change. The mean of difference used to assess respondents’ cropping activities yields shows that maize yield was most adversely affected (-14,606.0), then cassava (-11.028.3) and yam (-10,068.3). Respondent’s primary occupation (χ2=7.980) and number of dependants (r=-0.374) were significantly related to level of coping strategies used. There is the need for adequate knowledge about effect of climatic changes on crop yield for farmers in order prepare them for appropriate response to the reality of climate change. Government agencies, NGOs among other stakeholders need to put up educational programmes to meet the climatic information needs of farmers through effective extension services.