ABSTRACT
This study examined the adaptation strategies adopted by arable crop farmers for climate change and variability, implications and prospects on food crop production in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The study used multistage sampling technique and primary data were collected from 430 food crop farmers, 207 respondents were selected using the simple random sampling (SRS) technique and questionnaire was administered to them. Five research questions were raised to guide this study. The instrument was validated by one expert from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, and the other from Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin. The reliability of the instrument was done using Spearman-Brown reliability computation which yielded a co-efficient index of 0.78. The data collected was analysed using frequency count, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings of this study revealed that there is sufficient knowledge of arable crop farming on climate change and variability in Edo State, the impact of climate change which includes decrease the production of food crops, changes in planting and harvest time, reduction in crop yield and income of farmers, increase in the rate of disease during the excess rainfall. This study also revealed various adaptation strategies available to arable crop farmers, which are; the use of improved and resistant crop variables, the use of alternatives fallow/tillage practices, the varying planting dates and times. Lastly, this study reveals the implications and prospects of these adaptation strategies to food production in Edo State which includes; continuous food production by arable food farmers, improved nutrients use efficiency of arable crops, reduced green-house gas emission, increased agricultural productivity and development, provision of better living conditions for farmers, provision of raw materials for industries for the manufacture of food and other products, increase in the level of income of farmer in rural settlements, and continuous use of agricultural land by arable crop farmers. This study recommended government should make improved and resistant crop varieties available to arable crop farmers so as to increase their agricultural productivity,discourage deforestation and bush burning, encouraging afforestation and regeneration and embark on adequate extension programmes directed at meeting the climate change adaptation strategies in food crop production.
