Analysis of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices Among Maize Farmers in Funtua Agricultural Development Zone of Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Farming techniques in sub-Saharan African is not progressing at the same stride with advancement of modern agriculture practice. The resultant effects are obscenest and foulest recital in agricultural productivity which culminate in food insecurity, impoverishment and deprived national economy. This study examined climate smart agricultural practices among maize farmers in Funtua agricultural development zone of Katsina State. Primary data was collected with the aid of structured and pre-tested questionnaire administered to One hundred and sixty respondents using multi-stage sampling technique. Questionnaire administration was done by the researchers abetted by trained enumerators. Data collected from respondents was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Socio-economic diagnosis shows that the mean age of the respondents was 48 years. This suggests that majority of the maize CSAP practioners in the study area are in their youthful age and mainly (53%) are fully involved in maize farming with majority (75%) having more than 11 years maize farming experience. This implies that most of the maize farmers are energetic, this can translate to better performance in maize farming activities. The majority of the farmers (68%) are educated. This would further enhanced in espousal of CSAP technology. The study further revealed that the most CSAP techniques in the study area is minimum tillage and mixed farming as used by 90% of the respondents, while about 85% of the maize farmers interviewed practiced cover cropping. Inferential statistics reveals that coefficient of multiple determination R-squared value of 51.5%. Three out of seven exogenous variables were significant, these are Household size, farm size and education. Household size was negatively significant (P < 0.01). It implies that an increase in the size of the farming household would decrease the practice of CSAP in the study area. Education was positively significant (P<0.01). This connotes that advancement in farmers education will influence the practice of CSAP in the study area. Farm size was positively (P < 0.1). This implies that an increase in the farm size will stimulate the practice of CSAP among the maize farmers. The study concludes that there are ample evidences of CSAP activities among maize farmers in Funtua agricultural zone. The study recommends that bottleneck occasioned from non-availability of land for maize production should be tackled through government intervention. Knowledge update with respect to CSAP farming techniques should be championed by the farmers’ group and agricultural institutions. Household size should be regulated and synchronized with focus on agricultural productivity.