Adaptive Response Problems of Subsistence Farmers to Rainfall Changes in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

The multivariate (R-mode factor analysis) technique was utilized to determine the main adaptive response problems of subsistence farmers to the changing annual rainfall pattern in South-eastern Nigeria. A total of one thousand two hundred and seventy nine (1279) respondent farmers were randomly drawn from sixty (60) farming communities in Cross River, Abia and Akwa Ibom states, Nigeria, a six (6) dimensional solution from an initial fifteen (15) was arrived at accounting for almost 70% of the variations in the original problem matrix. These major problems include the lack of climate information, illiteracy, awareness problem, fertilizers and funding problems, poor agricultural and weather extension services, and difficulties in accessing official information. Non-governmental organisations and governments should be much more interested in climate change issues and act proactively to ameliorate the problem.

Key words: Rainfall change, R-mode factor analysis, subsistence farmers, adaptive response.