Understanding Farmer’s perception and Adaptations to precipitation and Temperature Variability on the Mambila Plateau Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

Rainfall and temperature changes pose serious agricultural risks on a global scale. Farmers in the rural areas, whose livelihoods depend on the use of natural resources, are likely to bear the brunt of adverse effects of rainfall and temperature changes as a result of the changing climate. This study evaluated farmers' perceptions and adjustments to rainfall and temperature change to improve policies to tackle the issues that climate change poses to farmers in the study area. The research uses a “bottom-up” approach, which seeks to gain insights from the farmers themselves. Data was collected from 480 farmers in the Mambila plateau for the 2020 crop season. Descriptive and bivariate analysis (Pearson, Spearman, and correlation coefficients) were used to analyze the collected data. The findings suggest that agricultural experience, the age of farmers, and the level of education of farmers influence farmers' perceptions of rainfall and temperature changes, the abundance of water resources also influences farmers' coping decisions. The findings also suggest that agricultural experience, the age of farmers, and the level of education of farmers influence farmers' perceptions of rainfall and temperature changes, the abundance of water resources also influences farmers' coping resolutions. While planting of early-maturing crops, drought-resistant crop and animal varieties, and planting crops on the onset of rainfall were the major adaptation measures used by farmers in combating the changing climate with regards to rainfall and temperature changes on the Mambila Plateau.