Constraints to the Use of Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices among Small Holder Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined the constraints to the use of climate smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Three stage sampling procedure was used to select 150 respondents for the study. Data was collected through the use of structured interview schedule and analyzed using frequency, percentage and regression analysis. Almost half of the respondents (49.3%) indicated that access to farmer-based insurance is a very high economic constraint. A high percentage of respondents indicated incidence of weeds, pests and diseases (67.3%) and infertile soil (58.0%) as serious environmental constraints. Socio-cultural constraints included occurrence of tribal conflicts (51.3%) and farmers/herders conflicts (62.0%). Demand for time (66.0%) and family needs (64.0%) the were among personal constraints identified while insufficient government support with farm inputs (53.3%) and inadequate access to extension services (57.3%) were institutional constraints. There was a significant relationship between constraints faced by farmers and use of climate-smart agricultural practices (p=0.000, r=-4.992). Provision of budgetary support and strengthening public-private partnerships to leverage funds for the adoption of climate smart practices is therefore recommended.