The impact of financial inclusion on the utilization of climate resilience practices among fish farmers in Delta State

This study investigates the role of financial access in driving the adoption of climate-resilient aquaculture practices among fish farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 240 farmers across three agricultural zones, and data were collected using structured questionnaires. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Likert scale evaluations to examine how financial services influence resilience strategies. Findings reveal marked variation in respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics: 58.3% were male, 75% fell within the 30–49 age range, and 41.7% possessed tertiary education. While 68.8% accessed formal financial services, a significant proportion (33.3%) relied on informal credit sources. Farmers with greater financial access exhibited higher uptake of resilience-enhancing measures, including disease prevention (89.6%), cultivation of climate-tolerant fish species (87.5%), and use of climate-resilient feed (79.2%). Adoption also extended to adaptive technologies such as improved pond designs and integrated farming systems. Logistic regression results identified access to credit, savings, financial literacy, and cooperative membership as significant predictors of climate-resilient practice adoption. The analysis underscores that financial access not only facilitates investment in adaptive technologies but also strengthens farmers’ capacity to manage climate-related risks. The study concludes that expanding affordable and accessible financial services particularly credit and savings facilities can substantially enhance climate resilience in aquaculture. Policy interventions should prioritize integrating financial inclusion strategies into climate adaptation programs to improve productivity, safeguard livelihoods, and ensure sustainable fish farming in the face of escalating climate variability.