Climate Variability and Cocoa Farmers’ Livelihoods in Idanre and Odigbo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cocoa production, which used to be the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy, had suffered a serious setback in the recent past due to some factors among which is climate variability. This study aims at examining climate variability’s effect on cocoa farmers’ livelihoods in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling techniques was used to sample 310 cocoa farmers in the study areas and data were collected using structured questionnaire to elicit information from cocoa farmers on their enterprise characteristics, awareness of climate variability, exposure to climate variability, and its effects on cocoa farmers’ livelihoods. Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics (such as mean, frequency counts, standard deviation, and percentages) and regression at p=0.05. Awareness of climate variation trends was highest for delayed onsets of rainfall (63.9%) and lowest for harmful gas emission (10.0%). Overall, awareness was high among 52.3 % of the farmers. Exposures to climate parameters were perceived to be highest in terms of temperature, incidences of soil erosion and mudslide. Negative impact of climate change on cocoa farmers’ livelihoods was pronounced in terms of poor quality of produce (4.7±0.7), low yield (4.2±0.6) and reduced size of land cultivated (4.3±0.9). The impacts were perceived as high among 51.3% of the farmers. Integrated pest management (3.6±0.8) and use of fertilizer (3.4±0.7) were major adaptation measures used. The study concludes that climate change variability has moderate impact on cocoa farmers’ livelihood in the study area. Impact on livelihood is more felt by larger households than smaller ones. It is recommended that improved awareness of climate-smart farming practices will reduce impact felt among cocoa farmers.