Adaptive responses of Nigerian rice farmers to climate change and field contamination through ecological innovation

Abstract This study was poised to investigate the adoption of ecological innovations and management of occupational health hazards among Nigerian paddy rice farmers in response to field contamination and climate risks. It was conducted across four major rice-producing states (Ekiti, Kwara, Edo, and Ogun) using a semi-structured questionnaire developed from a comprehensive literature review and validated through peer review. Data were collected from 192 farmers through face-to-face interviews and guided dialogues, focusing on ecological innovations, vulnerability assessments, satisfaction with implemented methods, occupational health hazards, and perceptions of sustainable rice cultivation. Findings reveal abysmally low adoption of ecological innovations among farmers, alongside minimal access to safety training and institutional support, highlighting major gaps in sustainable practice uptake and risk mitigation capacity. Correlation analysis demonstrated weak relationships among variables such as farmers’ education, adoption of ecological innovations, satisfaction with results, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Importantly, farmers who adopted ecological innovations expressed significantly higher satisfaction (odds ratio = 11.613), as did those with prior exposure to pesticides and chemicals (odds ratio = 4.084) regarding safety practices. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that prioritize farmer training, awareness campaigns, and institutional support to enhance sustainability and occupational safety in Nigerian rice farming.