Perceived Effects of Climate Change and its Variability on Smallholder Farmers Agricultural Production in Southwest, Nigeria

Nigeria is committed to achieving a 20% unconditional and 45% conditional reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, with a strong emphasis on raising awareness and preparing for the impacts of climate change by mobilizing local communities for climate change mitigation efforts. Climate change prediction and its variability have the potential to severely impact the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, leading to food shortages, among other consequences. This study aimed to assess the perceived effects of climate change and its variability on smallholder farmers’ agricultural production in Southwest Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 240 smallholder farmers from Oyo and Ogun States. A structured interview schedule was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that 79.2% were aged between 40-70 years, 75.0% were male, 87.5% had formal education, and 54.2% had been smallholder farmers for over 10 years. Major agricultural products included maize, cassava, yam, cocoyam, and vegetables; livestock production included poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, turkeys, and so on. The main adaptation strategies used by smallholder farmers were planting cover crops (100%), mulching (98.3%), mixed farming (95.8%), and relocation to different sites (93.3%). Cover cropping, mixed farming, and mulching were consistently used in the study area. The constraints faced were limited income (Mean = 2.78), water shortage (Mean = 2.77), windstorms (Mean = 2.75), and pests and diseases (Mean = 2.72). The study concluded that climate change negatively affects agricultural production due to the inherent link between climate and the agricultural sector in Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that it is essential to enhance awareness and provide educational programs to smallholder farmers through various channels such as cooperative societies, media, and online platforms. Improved understanding of climate change impacts will better equip smallholder farmers to adapt to climate issues.