Determinants of climate adaptation strategies and their intensity in arable crop production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The climate crisis is a significant threat to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – 2 of zero hunger in rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region with a longstanding battle with food insecurities. Understanding the choices farmers make in adapting to climate risks and the drivers that influence the choice and intensity of adaptation are imperatives for attaining the SDG-2 target. This study explores the determinants of choice and intensity of adaptation among arable crop farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. We aim to provide empirical evidence to inform effective policies and programmes for achieving SDG-2. Relying on cross-sectional data on 405 arable crop farmers across three agricultural zones, we analyse our data using multivariate probit and Poisson regression models. Our study result shows four predominant adaptation practices - use of climate information, appropriate application of fertilizer, improved crop varieties and change in planting dates. The result of the multivariate probit analysis indicates that while farmers’ socioeconomic (age, education, farm size, income, experience) and institutional characteristics (access to extension services) influence the choice of adaptation decisions, there is a clear complementarity in the choices of adaptation strategies used in climate risk management in arable crop production. We found that education, household size, income, access to agricultural extension services, farm size, training received, government support, and previous climate event experienced are the main determinants of adoption of multiple adaptation strategies. The study concludes that demographic and institutional characteristics drive farmers’ response to climate change. We recommend that related policies and government investments should focus on improving agricultural extension services, access to climate information, training of farmers on good agronomic practices, and diversification into farm and non-farm activities.