DETERMINANTS OF USE OF CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES AMONG ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN UYO AGRICULTURAL ZONE, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analyzed the determinants of use of climate-smart practices among arable crop farmers in Uyo Agricultural Zone, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied to select 123 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using simple percentages, mean, standard deviation and the Multinomial Logistic regression analysis. Findings showed that 30.8% of farmers were within the age bracket of 51-60 years with a mean of 40 years. The result show that 98.4% of the farmers were educated and 49.7% attended secondary school. Most (83.8%) of the farmers were female with a mean household size of 6 persons. However, 40.6% of the farmers were experienced with 88.6% engaging in off-farm work. About 76.7% were members of cooperatives and adopted between 5-10 climate-smart practices (90.3%). A total of 17 climate-smart practices were adopted by farmers. These were grouped into four broad categories. Of these, crop management practices were mostly used (63.8%), followed by field management practices (51.2%), while farm risk reduction practices and soil conservation practices accounted for 43.3% and 43.5% respectively. Results of the multinomial logit showed that educational attainment, age of farmer, household size, extension contact, farm size, credit access, monthly income, farming experience, marital status and group membership were among the socioeconomic factors that exerted varying degrees of influences on the choice of different climate-smart practices adopted by arable crop farmers. Hence, it is recommended that policies that will increase access to extension services, encourage cooperative membership, boost farm income, and enhance educational attainment be pursued.