Water management and crop-resistant varieties adaptation due to climate change by farmers

• DOI: 10.1007/s00704-024-04825-w
• Publication Date: 2024-01-18T02:02:25Z
• Authors: Adeleke T. Towolawi; Olusegun Oguntoke; Babatunde S. Bada; Joseph O. Adejuwon
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 13. Climate action; 15. Life on land; 6. Clean water

Abstract The threats of climate change on agricultural systems, water availability and crop performance put pressure on food security and zero hunger. The effects call for multifaceted mitigation and necessitate this research to investigate water management (W.M.) and crop varieties (CRV) adaptation being used by the rain-fed farmers that have the records of yearly high agricultural produce. The research distributed 1600 copies of pretested questionnaire across four (Benue, Edo, Niger and Ondo) states in Nigeria through the national Agricultural Development Programmes offices. The retrieved copies were coded in Excel spreadsheet, descriptively analysed in SPSS v23 and subjected to multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that three W.M. (riverside cultivation, irrigation practising and mulching) entered the Benue model but each for Ondo, Edo and Niger, respectively. All the CRV (SDT: selecting different technology, HYV: high yielding varieties, WRV: water-resistant varieties, DRV: drought-resistant varieties except DiRV: disease-resistant varieties) entered the Benue model, but DRV for Edo, WRV and DRV for Niger while DiRV for Ondo. General data of each state was significant (p < 0.05). Benin and Niger States had the highest variance (12.5 % W.M. and 21.7 % CRV). Durbin-Watson value < 2 indicated positive autocorrelation. Mulching worked best for farmers across the states while WRV and DRV were not in Ondo and Edo. Choice of W.M. and CRV differed across the study states and the research would suggest different climate change adaptation for farmers on both water management and crop varieties.