Abstract
This study was conducted to assess climate smart agricultural practices among maize farmers in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was administered to maize farmers in Egor local government area, Benin City, Edo state, through the use of simple random sampling technique. Data collected from 100 maize farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and Pearson’s correlation model. The result of the descriptive statistic showed that (52.1%) of the farmers were males, with majority of the farmers (62.1%) being between the ages of 46-55 years. Most of the farmers (80%) were married. Majority of Farmers (61.4%) in the study area have spent 12 years in school implying that most of them are literates and very experienced. The farmers in the study area have vast knowledge on the causes of climate change. Majority of the farmers agreed that bush burning (%), tree felling (%), air pollution (%), indiscriminate disposal of waste (%), increase in No2from fertilizer, carbon monoxide released were the major causes of climate change. Farmers agreed that climate change can lead to drought, erosion, and excessive heat, death of livestock, late rainfall, land degradation and wilting of plants. Majority of the farmers (76%) in the study area got information about climate change from the radio, implying that the major information source of farmers in the area is the radio. The major adaptation practice adopted by farmers in the study area is the cultivation of early maturing, disease resistant and drought resistant varieties. The major constraint faced by farmers in the study area is the absence of subsidies of planting materials followed by inadequate information on climate change. Farming experience had significant relationship with constraint encountered in adopting climate smart agricultural practices, while average monthly income, Non-farm income per-annum had a significant relationship with climate change information.
