Impact of climate change and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in zaria local government area, kaduna state, nigeria

Abstract

Climate change constitutes a formidable threat to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods across sub Saharan Africa, with smallholder farmers bearing a disproportionate share of its consequences. This study investigated the impact of climate change and the adaptation strategies employed by smallholder farmers in Zaria Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State, Nigeria. A quantitative research design was adopted, and structured questionnaires were administered to 384 smallholder farmers purposively selected from five wards (Dambo, Dutsen Abba, Kufena, Tukur Tukur, and Wuciciri), of which 365 copies were retrieved and analysed using descriptive statistics. Time series data on temperature and rainfall spanning 1988 to 2023 were also examined to establish long term climatic trends within the study area. The findings reveal that 40.8% of respondents reported increased temperatures and drought conditions, while 50.1% indicated reduced income and heightened food insecurity as a direct consequence of climate variability. The predominant adaptation strategies identified include changing planting dates to match rainfall patterns (48.5%), adopting drought tolerant crop varieties (40.8%), and diversifying farming activities (43.6%). However, institutional barriers such as limited access to credit, insufficient extension services, and the high cost of improved crop varieties continue to constrain effective adaptation. The study recommends strengthening agricultural extension services, expanding access to climate information systems, and promoting community based adaptation initiatives to enhance the resilience of smallholder farming systems in the region.