DETERMINANTS OF FLOOD ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AMONG ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN SEMI-ARID AREAS OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of flood adaptation strategies among arable crop farmers in semi-arid areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 401 respondents for the study. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the mean age, household size and farming experience of the farmers were 45.95 years, 16 persons and 4.37 years, respectively. The results also showed that mean years of formal education was 8.83, while the average farm size, annual farm income and non-farm income were 2.61 hectares, ₦1,366,347 and ₦773,965, respectively. In addition, the results revealed that the mean extension contact, access to credit and access to subsidies were 0.09, 0.14, and 0.02, respectively. The results further revealed that access to flood early warning information recorded a mean value of 0.46. The results also showed that the farmers adopted agronomic (Mean = 0.31), institutional (mean=0.25) structural (Mean = 0.26), and behavioral flood adaptation strategies (Mean = 0.12), with an overall adaptation index of 0.25, indicating a low level of adaptation. The results of regression analysis revealed that education (P < 0.05), household size (P < 0.01), two-generation household structure (P < 0.01), access to credit (P < 0.05), extension contact (P < 0.01), and access to flood early warning information (P < 0.01) significantly influenced farmers’ adaptation strategies. The study concluded that education, household size, extension contact, two generation household structure and access to flood early warning information were the determinants of flood adaptation strategies in the study area. The study recommended strengthening agricultural extension services, improving access to affordable credit and insurance schemes, and enhancing flood early warning systems to provide timely information and technical guidance, thereby promoting effective and sustainable flood adaptation among arable crop farmers in the study area.