Challenges in Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practice (Agroforestry) by Peasant Farmers in Aleiro, Kebbi State

Abstract

This study assessed the perceptions of farmers on the use of indigenous knowledge to combat the effect of climate change in Aliero local Government of Kebbi State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used to arrive at the sample size of one hundred and fifty (150) farmers in the study area. The age groups involved farming activities in the study area range between 30-39 years had the greater percentage of 36%. Majority of the farmers were male and married with 92% and 08% respectively. The respondents of these questionnaires are 94% into commercial farming as their main grown crops are onion and pepper. Majority of the farmers’ source of weather information is nonscientific, mostly relied on mere observations. This is followed by personal experience and pattern of first rain with 22% respectively. The major perception of the farmers on the use of indigenous knowledge to combat climate change is local knowledge in the weather forecasting obtained from mere observation with mean of (2.06). The least from farmers who were in the view that local knowledge is unrecognized with mean of (1.60). The farmers in the study area were highly aware of the indigenous knowledge on the use in determining weather conditions. It is recommended that farmers’ indigenous knowledge should be respected by advocating and mobilizing their unique knowledge and practice in climate change adaptation.