Determinant of farmers’ coping strategies to flood risks in cassava production in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20961/42v1yq82Keywords:
Cassava farming, Climate adaption, Flood resilience, Niger Delta, Smallholder agricultureAbstract
Flooding represents one of the most significant environmental threats to agricultural production in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Smallholder farmers cultivating cassava frequently experience crop losses due to seasonal inundation and prolonged waterlogging. This study analyzed the coping strategies adopted by cassava farmers and examined the socio-economic determinants influencing their adoption decisions in Omoku, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 cassava farmers using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that farmers employed several coping strategies to reduce flood-related crop losses. The most widely adopted strategies were ridging or mounding (76.7%), early harvesting (67.5%), crop diversification (61.7%), adjustment of planting dates (48.3%). Less frequently adopted measures included farm relocation and construction of drainage channels due to financial constraints. Econometric analysis showed that education level, farm size, access to extension services, and access to credit significantly influenced the adoption of coping strategies at the 5% significance level. Farmers with higher educational attainment and greater institutional support were more likely to adopt multiple adaptation strategies. Major constraints identified included lack of funds, poor drainage infrastructure, limited access to improved cassava varieties, and inadequate extension support. The findings highlight the critical role of institutional and financial resources in strengthening farmers’ adaptive capacity to flood risks. The study recommends expansion of extension services, improved access to credit facilities, dissemination of flood-tolerant cassava varieties, and community-based flood management programmed to enhance resilience of cassava farming systems in flood prone regions of Nigeria.
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