FACTORS INFLUENCING SMALE-SCALE MAIZE FARMERS CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

The current state of risks and uncertainties in Agriculture is exacerbated by shifts in climatic patterns especially in prone sub-Saharan Africa. This study analyzed the factors determining climate adaptation practices amidst smallholder producers of maize in Ekiti State, Nigeria, while utilizing a multistage procedure sampling in administering a structured questionnaire to 120 smallholder farmers. Descriptive (Frequencies, percentages, and means), Adaptive Indices, and a Tobit regression model was used to draw analysis from the data. Findings revealed that the average adaptation index value was 0.37, and the variables, delayed rainfall (90%), rising temperatures (93.3%), and erratic rainfall patterns (74.2%) ranked high as major observed climatic changes. Empirically, mixed cropping (74.2%), off-farm labour engagement (70%), multiple planting (62.5%), early planting (51.7%), and fertilizer application (50.8%) were outcomes for leading adaptation responses. The outcome of the Tobit model (LR χ² = 64.61, pseudo R² = 0.99) is a good fit, as age, education, farming experience, cooperative membership, awareness of change in climate, and extension contact were established as significant predicting variables of adaptation. Therefore, extension service delivery should be strengthened, access to climate information improved, and farm inputs subsidized for adaptive capacity enhancement of the targeted smallholder maize cultivators.