Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Cassava Production in Taraba State, Nigeria

This study assessed farmers’ climate change adaptation strategies and their effects on cassava production in Taraba State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 365 cassava farmers, and data were collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Likert scales were employed for data analysis. The results revealed that farmers perceived increased temperature (mean=3.58) and unpredictable rainfall (mean=3.55) as the most prevalent climate change events. The most widely used adaptation strategies were changing planting dates (mean=3.60) and crop diversification (mean=3.13), while irrigation (mean=1.20) and agroforestry (mean=1.37) were the least adopted due to high costs and technical constraints. Farmers agreed that adaptation strategies increased cassava yield (mean=4.12), improved soil fertility (mean=4.32), and reduced crop failure (mean=3.75). However, a majority (78.36%) agreed that the strategies were too expensive relative to the benefits, and farmers were undecided on their impact on household food security (mean=3.18). The study concludes that while farmers are actively adapting to climate change, the high cost of adaptation presents a significant barrier. It is recommended that policy efforts should focus on promoting affordable, climate-resilient practices and improving farmers' access to credit, drought-tolerant varieties, and timely climate information to enhance sustainable cassava production.