Adoption of Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa Varieties and Resilience to Climate Change among Maize Farmers in Derived Savannah Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

The decline in maize yield in Nigeria is largely attributed to droughts and floods. Farmers' ability to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate changes and extreme weather is crucial to mitigate the attendant economic losses This study examined the effect of adoption of the new Stress Tolerant Maize Varieties of Africa (STMA) on the resilience of smallholders maize farmers to climate change in the Derived Savanah zone of Nigeria. A multistage stratified random sampling procedure was used to select 520 maize farming households from 13 villages and data was elicited using a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Heckman Selection Model, Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis II (RIMA-II) and Endogenous Switching Regression Model (ESRM) were employed to analyse the data. Results reveal that majority of the maize farmers are in their productive age, cultivating an average of 3.94 ha of farmland, most of whom perceived the incidence of all the climate change indicators considered in the study. Results of the Heckman two-staged selection model show that the age of household head, farming experience, income sources, and location are significant variables influencing household food security of the maize farmers, while schooling years, household size, and market distance are significant in influencing the productivity of maize farmers in the study area. The first stage of the ESRM reveals that farmers’ awareness of both improved maize varieties and the STMA varieties, gender, and household size are positive and statistically significant in determining the adoption of STMA varieties. The second stage reveals that farming experience, income sources, and awareness of improved maize varieties are negative and statistically significant in explaining the variation in resilience to climate change among the farmers that adopted the STMA varieties, while schooling years, dependency ratio, off-farm income, income sources, market distance, extension access and awareness of improved maize variety are negative and statistically significant in explaining the variation in resilience to climate change among the non-adopters. Adoption of STMA varieties has a significant positive impact on resilience to climate change. Thus, awareness of STMA varieties and easy access to certified STMA seeds should be included in any agricultural development programmes and extension communication in Nigeria.