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Conference Proceedings of The Ill' Annual Nation~/ Conference of The Nig~ria11 ,!ssociation Of,~gricullllral Economists J!eld At Federal University ofAgrzculture, Abeokuta. N,gerw 16 -- 191/1 Octobe1, 2017,

PERCEPTION ON CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AMONG PLANTAIN PRODUCING FARMEitS IN OMI-ADIO AREA, ,

Sanusi M. M., Oyedeji O. O.and D. Akerele Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

CORRESPONDENCE E-MAIL: [email protected] Telephone: +234 703-3046-336

ABSTRACT Climate variability as a concept has gained much relevance due to its dynamics and complicated nature and the significant influence it has on various aspects of the environment as well as the increasing threat to· global climate change. The study focused on the perception on climate variability and adaptation strategies among plantain producing farmers in Omi-Adio Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 60 plantain farmers using a well­ structured questionnaire through a multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result showed that all'( 100%) respondents were male and al 1 (100%) were married. About 52.0% were within the age of 56 yearswith32 year of experience in plantain production. Majority (98.3%) of the respondents were aware and had experienced significant change in climate; and 93.3% attributed these changes to deforestation. Furthermore, the adaptation strategies showed that 38.3% did not put any strategy in place to reduce the effects of climate variability while majority (61.7%) carried out different mitigation strategies such as reducing bushing burning and plants stand (26.7%) and increasing heap size (18.3%). Conclusively, this study showed that plantain producing farmers in the study area were aware of the effects of climate variability on plantain production. Thus. the government and stakeholders should be fully involved in the education and sensitization of farmers on issues bordering climate variability, causes and control.

KEYWORDS: Plantain, Climate variability, Awareness, Adaptation strategics.

INTRODUCTION Climate is the long-term average weather conditions of a place which have some control and effects on agricultural produce either directly or indir~ctly. Climate variability is any change in climate overtime, whether due to natural variability and or as a result human activity (IPCC. 2007). Climate change as defined by United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 1992) refers to a change of climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and that is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Succinctly put. this effect of the pursuit oflivelihood and comfort leads to emission of Greenhouse gases (GHG). Plantain is one of the most important horticultural crops and it is among the ten most impo1tant food security crops that feed the world (USDA, 2012). It has always been an important staple food for both rural and urban populace (CBN, 2003). Plantain has the potential to contribute to strengthening national food security and decreasing rural poverty (Adejoro el al.. 2010). Plantain also plays an important role in the structuring of rural landscape throughout the producing areas in the country. Climate variability has led to diverse problems in p;oduction of plantain. The effects of climate variability on plantain production can be seen in the area of • excessively high temperature, irregular and insufficient rainfall and very low humidity. The

·»c>:itcrcncc Proceedings of The 18th Annual.National Conference of the Nigeria Association Of The Nigerian Agricullurnl 650 th th .. , ,,.,m,-,t, I k'd "' federal University of Agriculture. Abcokuta, Nigeria 16 - 19 Octobcc. 1017. Perception On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantain Producing Farmers In Omi-adio Area, Oyo State. Nigeria

vulnerability of plantain production to climate variability in Nigeria depends on its time of occurrence relative to the growth stage of the plantain. Plantain production in Nigeria depends solely on natural precipitation and rainfall variability which affects its production. Reduction in annual rainfall may have negative impacts on plantain production and which may pose a serious threat to food security since plantain is the' staple food of most Nigerians. Thus, effective and efficient adaptation and mitigation measures should be promoted to prepare stakeholders in plantain production systems so as to enhance their resilience and flexibility when facing inevitable climatic change and variability. Variation in climate also influences the population of dynamics of black leaf streak (BLS) and possibly other major diseases such as fusarium wilt. There may also be instances such as reduction in fruit quality yield, crop cycle length as well as vulnerability to disease which are the most important traits for market supply, food security and farmers' income. Thisis a major bottleneck for production. Against this backdrop, this study was carried out to investigate the perception on climate variability and adaptation strategics among plantain producing farmers in Omi-Adio Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The research work would try to find answers to the following questions: who are the plantain farmers in the study area?; does the farmer perceive and are they aware of the effects of climate variability on plantain production?; and what are the mitigation strategies put in place by the plantain farmer:-- \\) reduce the negative effects of climate variability on plantain production?. The objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study area; describe respondents' perception and awareness of the effects of climate variability in relation to plantain production in the study area; and identify the adaptation strategies put in place by the plantain farmers to reduce the negative effects of climate variability on plantain production.

METHODOLOGY Study Area The study area is Omi-Adio Area, , Oyo State, Nigeria. Oyo State was one ofthree States carved out of the former Western State of Nigeria on the 3rd of February 1976. Oyo State has thirty-three Local Government Areas which areAkinyele, , , , Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-West,Ibadan South-East, lbarapa Central, , Ido, , , , Lagelu, North, , , , Atigbo, , , , , , , Oluyole, , Surulere, , , , and with the capital being Ibadan. Oyo State is an inland State in the South-Western Nigeria and it lies in the latitude 8.0°N and longitude 4.0°E. The State covers a total land area of approximately 27,249km2 and bounded in the North by Kwara State, in the South by Ogun State, in the East by Osun State and in the West partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin. Ido is one of the Local Government Areas in Oyo State, Nigeria. It has an area of 986 km2 and a population of 103,261 based on the 2006 National Population Census. ldo Local Government Area covers the spanning Apata, Ijokodo, Omi-Adio, Akufo and Apete. It shares boundaries with Oluyole, Ibarapa East, , Ibadan North-West, and Ibadan South-West Local Government Areas in Oyo State and Odeda Local Government Area in Ogun State. Omi-Adio is one of the major towns in Jdo Local Government Area.The basic occupation of the people is farming because of the extensive fertile soil which is suitable for agriculture. The people grow various cash crops such as cocoa, kola nut, palm oil, timber, and food crops such as plantain, maize and rice. The area is also suitable for a wide range of edible fruit.

Coonference Proceedings of The 181h Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association OfThe Nigerian Agricultural 651 Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeril 16'" - 19th October, 2017. Perception On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantain P,roducing Farmers In Omi-adio Area, Oyo State, N1gmu

Method and Source of Data Collection Primary data was collected from the farmers through the use of a pre-tested, well-structured questionnaire on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; farmers' perception of climate change and the mitigation strategies put in place to reduce the negative effects of climate variability on plantain production. Additional informationwas gotten from research report and literature, past project, journals, internet and other related publications.

I Sampling Procedure and Technique The population for the study was plantain farmers in Omi-Adio, Oyo State. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the study. The first stage involved purposive selection of Oyo State from the South-West because it is known to be highly involved in the production of plantain. The secondstage involved simple random sampling which was used to select !do Local Government Area from the State and in the third stage; Omi-Adio town was randomly selected from list of towns in Ido Local Government Area where 60 respondents were randomly selected from the study area. ·

Analytical Tools The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as tables, frequency, mean and percentages to describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents; describe respondents' perception and awareness to the effects of climate variability in relation to plantain production and also to identify adaptation strategies in the area

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Socio-Economic Characteristics of Plantain Farmers Table 1 showed that all (100%) the plantain farmers were male. The participation of male in plantain production could be due to th1.: rigor and stress which characterizes the plantain production business which not many females might able to cope with. The sex of the farmer is predicted to influence the efficiency of the farm unit because some of the input of the farmer is managerial and also physical. Male dominance has severally been attributed to the labourious nature of peasant farming due to high independence on manual labour. Also limited access of women to productive inputs has also made men the major actors (Coster and Adeoti, 2015). Also, 51. 7%of the plantain farmers were between 51-60 years old with mean age of 56 years.This shows that plantain farming is practiced by aged farmers. All (100%) the farmers were married and this implied that there will be availability of family labour to enhance production and farming activities. This is in line with Ekong, (2010) who reported that getting married in Nigeria is not only because of children and continuation of family name but a vital source of unpaid labour in some areas. Furthermore, 76.7% of the plantain farmers had formal education while 23.3% had no formal education. Acquisition of one form of education or another by the respondents is an indication that they had opportunities of quick understanding of any new farming techniques that might be introduced to them. Education is an important characteristic, especially in the acquisition of knowledge and skills in different areas of human endeavours (Olaleye, 2000). According to Hussain, 2009, respondents' educational status is expected topositively influence growth and development in their society.The mean of experience in plantain farming is 3 lyears. This implied that the level of experience of the sampled farmers is expected to create more knowledge and information about climate variability and agronomic practices that can be used in response to climate variability. According to Maddison (2006) and Nhemachena and Hassan (2007), experience in farming increase the probability of uptake of adaptation measures to climate change.

Coonference Proceedings of The 18th Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association Of The Nigenan Agricultural 652 Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 16'" - 19'" October, 2017. Perception On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantain Producing Farmers In Omi-adio Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Table 1: Distribution of Respondents by Socio-economic Characteristics Variables Frequency Percentage (%) Mean Sex Male 60 100.0 Female 0 0.0 Total 60 100.0 Age (Years) Less than 30 .o 0.0 31-40 2 3.3 41 - 50 12 20.0 51-60 31 51.7 Above 60 15 25.0 Total 60 100.0 56 Marital Status Married 60 100.0 Single 0 0.0 Total 60 100.0 Level ofEducation No formal education 14 23.3 Primary education 17 28.3 Secondary education 29 48.4 Total 60 100.0 Farming Experience (years) Less than 30 34 56.6 31-40 12 20.0 41-50 7 11. 7 51-60 4 6.7 Above 60 3 5.0 Total 60 100.0 31 Source: Field survey, 2016

Respondents' Awareness and Perception of Climate Variability in Relation to Plantain Production in the Study Area 0 Table 2 showed that majority (98.3%) of the respondents were aware of climate variability, 96.7% were of the view that they had experienced significant change in weather pattern (i.e. rainfall and temperature) over the last 3 years in the study area while 60%, 23.4%, 10%, 3.3%, and 3.3% described the climatic changes as a result ofreduction in rainfall duration, reduction in rainfall intensity, increase in temperature, late rainfall and severe wind respectively. However, about 65% of the .farmers strongly belief that the climate variability are were synonymous as high temperature, 21.6% and 11. 7%,professed climate variability is same as reduce rainfall and change in pattern in rainfall respectively while 1.7% of the respondents' views on climate variability varies. This implied that majority of the respondents were aware and have perceived ideas on climate variability. It may also imply that their awareness and perception have contributed positively to plantain production in the study area.

Ci,onference Proceedings of'Ibe 18 th Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association Of The Nigerian Agricultural 653 h th Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Nigeria I 6' - 19 October, 2017. f Perception On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantain Producing Farmers In Omi-adio Area, Oyo State Vig,,

Table 2: Respondents' Awarenessand Perception of Climate Variability in Relation to Plantain Production in the Study Area

Perception/ awareness Response Frequency Percentage (11iiJ Have you ever heard about climate variability? Yes 59 98.3 No 1 1.7 Total 60 100.0 Have you ever experienced any significant Yes 58 96.7 change in weather pattern over the last 3 years? ,., , No 2 .) . .) Total 60 100.0 Describe this change (i.e. rainfall duration, Reduction In Rainfall Duration 36 60.0 rainfall intensity, temperature increase, or severe wind) Reduction in Rainfall intensity 14 23.4 increase in Temperature 6 10.0 Late Rainfall 2 3.3 Severe Wind 2 3.3 Total 60 100.0 What do you know about climate variability? High Temperature 39 65.0 Reduce Rainfall 13 21.6 Change in Rainfall Pattern 7 11.7 Others 1 1.7 Total 60 100.0

Source: Field Survey, 2016

Perception of Farmers on Human Activities that Cause Climate Variability Table 3 revealed that majority (93.3%) of the respondents attributed the variability in climatic factors to deforestation, 66. 7% strongly agreed that variation in climate is caused by land clearing and bush burning while 95% weakly agreed on the use of tractor on the farm as the cause of variation in climate. Majority (73.3%) of the respondents disagreed that the use of nitrogen fertilizer could cause variation in climate, 78.3% moderately agreed that burning of waste QO the farm led to climatic variability while 61. 7% of the respondents weakly agreed that the use of agrochemicals affected climate variability. For the indicators of climate variability. the result showed that 83.3% of the respondents in the study area identified warmer and more frequent hot days and night as an indicator of variability in climate, 78.3% agreed that increase in temperature is an indicator of climate variability, 86.6% and 91. ?%agreed that it is indicated by increase in drought and reduction in rainfall intensity and duration respectively.

Coonference Proceedings ofThe 18,. Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association OfThe Nigerian Agricultural 654 Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokut11. Nigeria 16,. - 19th October, 2017. Perception On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantai·n p, ro ducmg · F, armers 1n 0 m1-a· d'to Area, Oyo state, N'1geria ·

Table 3: Distribution of the Perception of Farmers on Human Activities that Cause Climate Variability Climate Variability Causes Disagree Weakly Moderately Strongly agree agree agree Deforestation 3(5%) 0(0%) 1(1.7%) 56(93.3%) Land clearing and bush burning 3(5%) 2(3.3%) 15(25%) 40(66.7%) Use of tractor on the farm 3(5%) 57(95%) 0(0%) 0(0%) Burning of waste 3(5%) 0(0%) 47(78.3%) 10(16.7%) Use of agrochemicals 22(36.6%) 37(61.7%) 1(1.7%) 0(0%) Increased use of fossil fuels (petrol, firewood, 1(1. 1ro) 34(56.7%) 22(36.6%) 3(5%) charcoal, diesel, etc.) Use of Nitrogen fertilizers 44(73.3%) 15(25%) 1(1.7%) 0(0%) Indicators of Climate Variability. Warmer and more frequent hot days and night 3(5%) 7(11.7%) 0(0%) 50(83.3%) Increase in temperature 1(1.7%) 11(18.3%) 1(1.7%) 47(78.3%) Increase in drought 1(1.7%) 6(10%) 52(86.6%) 1(1.7%) Reduction in rainfall intensity and duration 2(3.3%) 3(5%) 0(0%) 55(91.7%) Changed timing of rains 1(1.7%) 1(1.7%) 37(61.7%) 21(35%) Inc,eased rate of evapo-transpiration 14(23.3%) 8(13.3%) I 9(31.7%) 19(31.7%) Others (specifi:) 55(91.7%) 2(3.3%) 2(3.3%) 1(1.7%) Source: Fleld survey, 2016.Figures in brackets are percentages.

Adaptation Strategies by Plantain Farmers to Reduce the Effects of Perceived Climate Variability on Plantain Production in the Study Area Table 4 revealed the adaptation strategies employed by plantain farmers to minimize the adverse effects of perceived climate variability on plantain production. It was revealed that 38.3% did not do anything to reduce the negative effects of climate variability. However, 26.7% employed reduction of plant stands and reduction in frequency of bush burning strategy, 18.3% increased the size of heaps, 5.0% observed rainfall pattern, 6.7% avoided deforestation while 5.0% used chemicals. This may imply that farmers are aware of climate variability and its effects on their outputs and so adopted these strategies to minimize the effects of climate variability on plantain production.

Table 4: Adaptation Strategies~mt in Place by the Plantain Farmers to Reduce the Negative Effects of Climate variability on Plantain Output. Variables Frequency Percentage None 23 38.3 Reduction of Plant Stand and Bush Burning 16 26.7 Increase Heaps Size/Height 11 18.3 Observed Rainfall 3 5.0 Avoid Deforestation 4 6.7 Use of Chemicals 3 5.0 Total 60 100.0 Source: Field Survey, 2016.

Coonforence Proceedings of The \8th-Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association OfThe Nigerian Agricultural 655 Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria I 6'h - I 9'h October, 2017. ~ Perception On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantain Producing Farmers In Omi-adio Area, ()J,o State. Nig<'nc:

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Following the results of this study, it can be concluded that plantain farmers in the study area experienced significant change in weather pattern over the last 3 years as a result of reduction in rainfall duration, reduction in amount of rainfall intensity, increase in temperature and severe wind. However, majority of the farmers strongly believed that climate variability are synonymous to high temperature and decrease in rainfall. To ensure livelihood sustainability and food security which is being threatened on a daily basis by climatic variation and changes there is need for policies framework to be developed at local and global farm level to counter the adverse effects of climate change and variation. Therefore, the study recommended the • following: 1. Climate change information is a necessary prerequisite for adapting to climate change. Nigerian meteorological agency and other meteorological agencies.should be encouraged and strengthened to provide farmers with early warning signal through extension agents to enable them make informed de.cisions and allow them to better prepare for adverse weather conditions. 2. There is preference for specific adaptation strategies among farmers based on the prevailing climatic conditions in the study area. Adaptation policies by government should also target Omi-Adio based on the constraints and potentials of the study area instead of recommending uniform interventions for all areas in the State. 3. Indiscriminate felling of trees should be discouraged and policies should be made that when they are fallen, another should be planted as replacement. 4. Based on the study findings on the age of respondents, the study recommends the need to create more awareness and potentials attached to the cultivation of plantain taking climate variability into consideration as well as provide and rehabilitate the necessary infrastructures and other utilities that would retain the youths in the study.

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,~oonference Proceedings of The J81h Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association Of The Nigerian Agricultural 656 Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture. Abeokuta, Nigeria 16'"- 19'• 0..-iober, 2017. Percept;on On Climate Variability And Adaptation Strategies Among Plantain Producit1g Farmers In Omi-adio Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Maddison D. (2006): The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa. CEEPA Discussion Paper No I 0. Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria. Pp 6 National Bureau of Statistics 2010.The review of the Nigerian economy 2010.Central Business District, FCT, Abuja. Nhemachena, C. and R. Hassan (2007): Micro-Level Analysis of Farmers' Adaptation to Climate Change in South Africa. IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 00714. International Food Policy Research Institute. Washington DC. Pp 5-9 Olaleye, R.(2000): Effectiveness of development intervention for economic empowerment of rural women in Ondo state. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis.Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University oflbadan. United Nations Framework~onvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992).Retrieved from http://www.unfccc.int/2860.php. Assessed on 2016, April 18 United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), (2012): Nutrient data laboratory. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/data/SR '8/srl 8.html. Assessed on 2016, April 16.

Coonference Proceedings of The I 8th Annual National Conference of the Nigeria Association Of The Nigerian Agricultural 657 Economists Held at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 16'h- 19'h October, 2017.