ASSESSMENT OF SOCIOECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL STRATEGIES AMONGST RICE FARMERS IN NASARAWA STATE

Abstract

Despite high level of rice production and Government interventions through Climate Smart Agricultural Strategies (CSA) in ensuring food available and accessible to all in Nigeria. Climate change continues to be a hug bottleneck to rice producers. This study seeks to assess socioeconomic constraints of climate smart agricultural strategies amongst rice farmers in Nassarawa State. To achieve this, 2 LGAs each were purposively selected out of the three Zones from which 100 rice farmers were randomly selected. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Likert Scale Type. The study revealed that 80% were male and about 92% were married. Majority (90%) have basic education while about 55% were reported to have 11-20 years’ rice farming experience with mean years of 17. Mean farmers age were 37 while 40% were between 31–40 years of age with 53% having farm size of 4–6 hectares. CSA strategies awareness level was about (98%) while majority (96%) were reported to adopt this CSA Strategies. Scarcity of water during dry season, lack of improved storage facilities, inadequate data and CSA information, high cost of input for rice production and inadequacy in dissemination of CSA information were ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively as the most socioeconomic constraint affecting rice production in the study area. It was recommended that women and youth farmers should participate more in rice production, rice farmers should acquire the know-how on each CSA strategies adopted for optimal utilization and Government and stakeholders should intensify in promptness and efficient CSA strategies information dissemination to the farmers in timeliness. Lastly Government should provide inputs adequately at low cost and at the appropriate time to farmers to ensure high outputs.