DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA
The study examined the determinants of climate change on cassava production in the study area. To achieve this main objective, the study identified the socio economic characteristics of the cassava farmers; identified the constraints faced by farmers in cassava production and finally determined the coping strategies adopted by cassava farmers in adjusting to the impact of climate change in cassava production. A well structured interview schedule was used in collecting data for the study and the data collected were based on the stated objectives of the study. There are ten cells in the block. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 18 respondents from each cell making a total number of ninety (90) as the sample size. Results of findings revealed that the mean age of the cassava farmers was 53.22 and most of the farmers had 7 members in their household. About 72.2% of the respondents were male and most of them had one form of formal education or the other. The result of findings revealed that a significant relationship was found between change of farmland (.295*) and the determinants of climate change. The major constraints faced by farmers in cassava production were lack of storage system and problem of pests and diseases. Therefore, the study recommends that storage facilities should be provided by government to cassava farmers and the cost of pesticides should also be subsidized in order to boost cassava production.
