Climate Change and Small Holder Agricultural Production

Abstract

This paper reviewed climate change and small holder agricultural production in Nigeria, a topic carefully chosen because of emerging challenges of climate change on the agricultural sector in Nigeria.  The impact on agricultural sector employment in Nigeria is evidence in yield changes that may necessitate alterations in labor demand leading to job losses or shifts in employment patterns. Also changes in climate patterns might exacerbate resource scarcity, leading to increased input costs for farmers which can potentially affect employment levels in the sector. The poor performance of the sector is in response to the vagaries of weather, which causes farmers to make decisions based on imperfect information and knowledge, resulting to agricultural ‘injury’ or loss. The vulnerability of the existing technologies and adaptive capacity of farmers exacerbate the performance of the sector. Effective adaptation and mitigation strategies are crucial in coping with climate change menace to farmers. A sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) which offers a comprehensive perspective on the intricate interplay between climate change, agricultural sector employment, and sustainable livelihoods (food production) is advocated as a way out of the climate change and agricultural performance quagmire. The following are recommended based on this review: phasing out fossil fuels to prevent global warming, which is one of the main causes of climate change, advocacy to farmers for a shift from industrial modes of agriculture to regenerative forms that improve on the ecosystems and governments should support by way of grants, credit, subsidy, etc. investment in food production that promotes biodiversity.