FUNMILAYO O. A. (MRS)

Department of Geography, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. funmilayoolukemi@gmail.com / funmlayooa@aceondo.edu.ng

Abstract

This study assesses farmers’ perception and adaptation strategies in combating the effects of climate change on agriculture in Ondo State. The objectives of this paper are to: assess farmers’ perception of changing climate on agriculture and assess the adaptive measures used by farmers in response to changing climate. Three hundred (300) farmers were randomly selected from fifteen communities in three LGAs; each local government was drawn from the three senatorial districts of the study area based on their level of involvement in agricultural practice. Questionnaire was administered to the respondents to get useful and firsthand information. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used. Descriptive analysis used includes simple percentage, mean, frequency distribution, and charts while inferential statistics used was Tobit Regression model. Findings showed that respondents perceived and observed an increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall with a shortening period. Farmers also followed various soils management practices for better crop yield. Based on the findings, the paper suggested among other things; regular training for the farmers and integration of weather information by the Government into agricultural training programmes.

Keywords: Adaptation, Agriculture, Climate, Perception, Strategies, Sustainability,