Evidence of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies among Grain Farmers in Sokoto State, Nigeria

This study examined the evidence of climate change and adaptation strategies among grain farmers in Sokoto state. The paper focused at finding out the farmers' knowledge of climate change and adaptation strategies. Rainfall and temperature data for 30 years were sourced from the Sokoto Rima Basin Development Authority's Rainfall Reading Office, Goronyo and Nigerian Metrological Services (NIMET) Oshodi, Lagos and used for this study. Purposeful sampling technique was used in the selection of 385 respondents. Farmers' perception and adaptation strategies to climate change were obtained by means of structured questionnaire administered to the sampled grain farmers. The results were summarized by means of frequencies and percentages and presented in tabular forms, trend lines and bar charts. The study revealed that farmers' perceptions of climate change issues are in line with the analysed climate records for the area; the annual rainfall totals favour the cultivation of millet; there is late onset of rain and frequent agricultural drought which affects grain production in the area. The study recommends that the research institutes should produce better adapted varieties of millet and other grains and government should subsidize the seeds to the farmers. Furthermore, there should be adequate provision for irrigation, weather forecasting and other agricultural technological infrastructure, modern knowledge on climate change adaptation and strengthening of the extension services. The study concludes that the climatic characteristics of the study area affect grain production and that adaptation strategies have significant contribution on grain production in the area.