Utilization of Indigenous Knowledge Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Among Arable Crop Farmers in South –Western Nigeria

Local people of southwestern Nigeria like in other climes, continue to be confronted with the vagaries of changing environments. This article analyses indigenous adaptation strategies for climate change with a view to enhancing sustainable crop farming in southwestern Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 225 respondents from the two major ecological zones (Forest and Derived Savanna) to allow geographical inclusiveness. Data were collected through the use of validated structured interview schedule Frequency distribution , percentages , means and standard deviation were used to describe the data. . Pearson product moment correlation ( PPMC) was used to test the hypothesis formulated and multi-nomial logit regression analysis was used to determine important variables that influenced farmers choice of ICCAS The result showed that majority 80% of the arable crop farmers were male. The use of ICCAS was not hindered by the educational level of the farmers as most of them 73.3% had educational experiences at varying levels. The findings also showed that seven indigenous adaptation strategies were commonly utilized by arable crop farmers. Nonetheless, crop diversification, consultation with rainmakers and involvement in non-agricultural ventures were prioritized in the order of 1-3, respectively. Also, there were positive and significant correlation between extent of ICCAS utilisation and selected personal characteristics of arable crop farmers, namely, age(r=0.260; P≤0.01), farm size(r=0.328; ;P≤0.01). The results of multiinomial logit regression analysis revealed that at P≤0.05 level of significance , land ownership, access to loan and education level were all important in explaining ICCAS utilised by arable crop farmers in southwest Nigeria . It was concluded that the use of organic manure, mulching, bush fallowing and crop diversification were the commonest ICCAS being used for climate change adaptation among arable crop farmers The study recommended that all the identified ICCAS need to be integrated into the development process for sustainable crop farming.