FARMERS ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO DROUGHT IN KATSINA AND ITS ENVIRONS
FARMERS ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO DROUGHT IN KATSINA AND ITS ENVIRONS
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Date
2014-07
Authors
SULEIMAN, Umar Bambale
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Abstract
This research examines farmers’ adaptation strategies to drought in Katsina and its
environs. The objectives of the research are to characterize rainfall trend of the study area,
to determine the intensity and years of occurrence of drought in the study area, to assess the
awareness of farmers on drought issues, to examine the socio economic effects of drought
in the study area, and identify the farmers adaptation strategies within the farming system
of the study area. Rainfall data from 1971 to 2010 were sourced from the Nigerian
Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Katsina air port. These data were used to characterize the
rainfall trends for monthly and annual total, which are the determinants of cropping season.
Statistical tools were used to achieve the above objectives. The 5-year running mean shows
that below average rainfall was experienced from the early 1970s up to 2000. On the other
hand, above average rainfall is being experienced from the year 2000 afterward. The result
of changes in monthly rainfall revealed that there is a significant decrease in rainfall
amount in the month of June, little change in the month of July and substantial increase in
the months of August and September. The result of Normalized Rainfall Index shows that
moderate to severe drought was experienced in 1970s to 1990s with the peak in 1984. The
13 years of all drought intensities occurrence represents about (32.50%) of study period
(40years) for this station. However, the last decade (2000s) has been witnessing decreasing
number of drought occurrences due to apparent increase in wet condition. A total of 385
questionnaires were administered to farmers whom were purposively sampled using
Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) method from the sixteen (16) selected wards. The result also
revealed that farmers awareness of the causes and effects of drought, extension services
along with increasing wet condition are the factors that enhance adaptive capacity to
drought in the study area. The main adaptation strategies to drought which the farmers
employ include: planting drought resistant variety of crops (e.g. millet and sorghum), crossridging,
irrigation practices, delay farm clearance, application of fertilizer/manure, planting
of more trees in the farm. The study concludes that rainfall characteristics of the study area
affects crop yield and that adaptation strategies have significant contribution on crops
production in the study area. Based on the findings of the research, the study recommends
that farmers should learn water harvesting techniques, promote dry planting and adopt
drought resistant and early maturing varieties of crops. Government on the other hand,
should develop small scale irrigation schemes, promote information delivery, and invest in
soil and water conservation in the area.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFULMENT OF
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A
MASTER DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
FARMERS,, STRATEGIES,, DROUGHT,, KATSINA,, ENVIRONS.