EFFECTS OF DROUGHT AND FARMERS' ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN SOKOTO, STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the effects of drought and farmers' adaptation strategies on agricultural production systems in Sokoto, State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 221 respondents comprises of 111 crop farmers, 45 livestock farmers and 65 mixed farmers. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The regression analysis revealed that 73%, 83% and 90% of variations in Crop, Livestock and Mixed farming production respectively were explained by the independent variables included in the models. while the remaining (27%, 17% and 10%) were due to error in measurement of some variables among the 3-agricultural production systems in Sokoto State. The F statistic was significant at 1% level of probability. The coefficient of value of crop loss to drought of the farmers in Sokoto state was positive and significant at 1% level of probability. This implies that the higher the occurrence of drought in Sokoto State will lead to increase in the effect of drought on crop production as many crops will be destroyed and the productivity will be very low among the crop farmers. Community-based water management initiatives (= 3.78), early warning system, risk assessment and emergency respond(=3.89) and climate smart farming such as conservation agriculture and precision farming (=3.68) were the major adaptation strategies to drought related losses adopted across the agricultural production system. The study conclude that drought has economic effects in agricultural production. The study recommended that State government should establish more and enhance existing drought monitoring systems to provide early warning to farmers.