Indigenous and Modern Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Cocoa Farmers in Southwest Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined the capability for the use of indigenous and modern adaptation strategies to climate change among cocoa farmers in Southwest, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents from Southwest, Nigeria. An interview schedule was used to collect the data. Data collected were analysed using percentage and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The result reveals that 90% were aware of climate change in the study area. The indigenous adaptation strategies used were prayer (100%), respect and humility to gods (99%), mulching (92%), mixed cropping (90%), weeding (88%), shade and shelter (85%) and cutting of branches (81%). Also, modern adaptation strategies used were fungicide spray (99%), insecticide spray(90%), agro forestry (80%), bush burning restriction (80%), planting drought resistant varieties (50%), fertilizer application (48%), weather forecasts (20%), irrigation (20%), and farm agricultural insurance policy (10%) The major constraints were the inadequate funds and lack of knowledge of modern adaptation strategies to climate change. The use of indigenous strategies was positively correlated with age (r=0.351, p=0.05),while the use of modern adaptation strategies had a negative correlation with age (r=-0.759, p= 0.01). It is concluded from the study that despite farmers’ awareness of climate change, the use of modern adaptation strategies was low due to inadequate knowledge and fund. The study therefore recommended training in the use of modern adaptation strategies to climate chang