ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING MILLET FARMERS ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

The study analyzed factors influencing millet farmers adaptation strategies to climate change in Yobe State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 305 millet farmers for the study. Data were collected primarily, through the administration of structured questionnaire and FGD. Data collected were analyzed using mean, frequency, percentage, and multiple regression. The results on socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents showed that 29.8% fell within the economically active age bracket of 41-50 years, 65.9% were male, 74.8% were married, 37.4% had no formal education while 53.4% had a household size of 6-10 persons. The result also revealed that 50.8% had 8-12 years of farming experience, 48.9% had access to 2-4 hectares, 44.9% had access to climate change information, and 60% were members of association. The result revealed that extension visit account for 58% while 39.7% had an annual farm income of between ₦251,000-₦350,000 respectively. Educational background, farming experience, access to climate change information, annual farm income, extension visit, and membership of association were significant determinants of millet farmers adaptation strategies to climate change at different probability levels (P<0.001 and P<0.05). Variables such as desertification, temperature, rainfall, and drought had both positive and negative influence on millet production. The study recommends extension organizations to exposed millet farmers to more effective adaptation strategies to avert climate-related risk; government and other stakeholders should provide or link millet farmers to available sources of fund or credit that will promote the use of climate-resilient infrastructures; extension organizations should enhance farmers use of diverse sources of climate change information in the study area.