ISSN 2360-798X
Abstract
Accepted 29th August, 2020.
This study economic effect of climate change on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L) production among farmers in Kebbi state, Nigeria was conducted to examine the economic effect of climate change on pearl millet production in Kebbi state, Nigeria. Purposive sampling method was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Two local government areas were proportionately selected based on the preponderance of millet farmers in the study area. Primary data for the study were collected with the aid of the structured questionnaires designed and administered to the respondents. The data collected were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics, gross margin, five-point Likert scale rating, Spearman`s correlation coefficient and Ricardian model. Results of the study indicated that majority (98.5%) of the farmers were males and within the age range of 46 and above years, among which there were 85% married. 37.50% had their household size ranging from 1-5. Thirty one percent (31%) of the respondents were literate with mostly secondary school education. Farming was the major occupation of the farmers (57.26%) and it was their major source of income with 68% of the respondents sourcing their income from farming. Inheritance with 70.25% was the major land tenure system practiced by the farmers in the area of study. The hypotheses developed for the study were tested using Spearman`s correlation coefficient (0.998). The null hypothesis was therefore rejected and the alternative hypothesis accepted. The gross margin per hectare was estimated at ₦37,878.28. While the gross farm income (Net Farm Income) per hectare which represents the return to management was calculated at ₦76,713. The total variable costs incurred for pearl millet production per hectare was ₦38,834.73 out of which labor alone accounted for 77.9% of the production cost. The net return on investment was found to be ₦1.025. The results of the Ricardian model indicated that the coefficient of rainfall (0.0429), rainfall2 (0.2115) and temperature (1.2479) were positive and statistically significant at 1% level of significance respectively. The coefficient of the temperature2 (0.0109) was positive and the coefficient of the wind (-0.0075) and wind2 (-0.7617) were negative. The coefficient of wind2 (-0.7617) was found to be negative and statistically significant at 1% level. The study recommended that government should create more awareness about the phenomenon of climate change and highlight changes in rainfall and temperature which are critical in millet production and in facilitating the adoption of climate change related strategies. Agricultural extension services should be widely available to farmers in the study area in order to boost the adoption of climate-smart adaptation strategies. More agricultural extension agents could be employed and effective group dissemination techniques, such as farmer field for a, could be adopted.
Keywords: Climate Change, Pearl Millet, Gross margin, and analyses.