Acceptance of crop management strategy across four rain-fed agricultural states in Nigeria

Abstract

Threat of climate change is intense on rain-fed agriculture.This study investigated how farmer sare coping across four (Benue, Edo, Ondo and Niger) states in Nigeria using1600 copies of pretested questionnaire, which were descriptively (frequency and percentage) and inferentially (Chi-Square) analysed in SPSS v23.00.The results indicated that higher number of farmers significantly (p < 0.05) adapted scarce resources substitution (Niger>Benue>Ondo>Edo) except in Edo State. Majority of the farmers did not practise crop management (Edo>Benue>Niger>Ondo) and the reason was not significantly (χ = 8.620, p =0.473 > 0.05) different in Ondo State.There was no significant (p < 0.05) crop selection strategy among the farmers (Niger>Benue>Edo>Ondo) in each State. The crop rotation strategy was adapted by the farmers (Benue>Edo>Niger>Ondo) with significant (p < 0.05) difference in Edo and Ondo States. Adaptation of mixed cropping systems followed Benue>Edo>Niger>Ondo with significant (p < 0.05) difference among farmers in Benue and Niger States. Building crop storage strategy (Niger>Benue>Ondo>Edo) was adapted (p< 0.05)in each State. The farmers practised seedling transplanting (Edo>Niger>Benue>Ondo) with significant (p < 0.05) difference except in Edo State (χ = 8.168, p = 0.086 > 0.05), early planting (Benue>Niger>Ondo>Edo) in each State, and late planting (Niger>Benue>Edo>Ondo) with significant (p <0.05) difference in Niger State. The same policy would not be effective for the farmers on crop selection, building crop storage and early planting strategy in each State, because their Chi-Square test indicated p < 0.05.