Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Sustainable Land Management Practices for Climate Change Adaptation in Imo State, Nigeria
by Nnadi, F.N., Chikaire, J., Nnadi, C.D., Okafor, O.E. Echetama, J.A. and Utazi, C.O.,

Abstract:
The study analyzes the benefits of sustainable land management practices as a climate change adaptation mechanism in Ohaji Area of Imo State. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents; identify sustainable land management practices of respondents; and ascertain the benefits of land management practices as a climate change measure. The purpose was to show that farmers management of land in the right way could help adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. A study of this nature will benefit both farmers and scholars as it outlines various practices that could help farmers adapt. Researchers, students and other stakeholders will use the result of this work as a reference point. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and oral interviews to capture stakeholder opinions, although we faced problem of money, reluctance by farmers to respond and time. Descriptive tools of analysis such as frequency counts and mean presented in tabular forms were used to analyze data collected. The survey found that respondents practice mulching, crop rotation, intercropping, mixed cropping, agro forestry and conservation/minimum tillage in their farming practices with direct benefits in yield increase, pest control and crop failure reduction. This implies that sustainable land management practices can contribute to making farming systems of the rural poor farmers more resilient to the adverse effects of climate change. Therefore, there is need to increase farmers environmental literacy and encourage them to embrace new land management technologies especially where present practices cannot encompass the required changes. To accomplish this, extension visits, education and training must be extended regularly to all farmers.

Keywords: climate change, adaptation, agriculture, land management.

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