Climate Change Perception and Uptake of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Rice Production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Regulation of 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline Content in Fragrant Rice under Different Temperatures at the Grain-Filling Stage

2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) is a key volatile organic compound in fragrant rice aroma. However, the effects of temperature on 2-AP biosynthesis in fragrant rice and its regulation mechanism have been rarely reported. In the present study, three fragrant rice varieties were used as plant materials, and four temperature treatments during the grain-filling stage, i.e., (T1) 22/17 °C, (T2) 27/22 °C, (T3) 32/27 °C, and (T4) 37/32 °C, were adopted. The results showed that grain contents of 2-AP, proline, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) significantly (P < 0.05) increased with decreased temperature, while the lowest and highest 2-AP contents were recorded in the T4 and T1 treatments, respectively. Higher pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C) content was recorded in low-temperature treatments (T1 and T2) than in high-temperature treatments (T3 and T4). The transcript levels of genes BADH2, PRODH, and OAT significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with decreased temperature. Lower transcript levels of genes P5CR, P5CS2, DAO2, DAO4, and DAO5 were recorded in low-temperature treatments (T1 and T2) than in high-temperature treatments (T3 and T4). In conclusion, low temperature increased 2-AP content and high temperature decreased 2-AP content in fragrant rice. We deduced that temperature regulated 2-AP biosynthesis through the metabolism of proline and GABA.

How Does Climate Change Affect Tomato and Okra Production? Evidence from Nigeria

This study examined the impacts of climate change on okra and tomato yields. Fertilizer consumption and credit to the crop sector were considered as covariates in the analysis. Time-series data, spanning a period of 40 years, were obtained from various sources. An autoregressive distributed lag model was applied to analyze short- and long-term impacts of climate change and agricultural inputs on okra and tomato yields. Not all variables were stationary at levels (order zero), but they were all significant at first difference, indicating the presence of cointegration. The Bound's test F-ratio was statistically significant and implied the presence of long- and short-term relationships among the variables studied. The mean temperatures had negative impacts on okra and tomato yields in both the short and long terms. Credit guaranteed to the crop sector had positive short- and long-term impacts on tomato yield; fertilizer consumption had a negative long-term impact on okra yield. Our study concludes that climate change, particularly rising temperature, impacts herbaceous fruit crop production in Nigeria. Therefore, we recommend that breeding and disseminating climate-smart tomato and okra varieties will help fruit crop farmers respond to rising temperatures.

Assessing the combined effects of temperature, precipitation, total ecological footprint, and carbon footprint on rice production in Nigeria: a dynamic ARDL simulations approach

The present study aims to investigate the combined effects of temperature, precipitation, ecological footprint, carbon footprints, rice plant area harvested, and fertilizer use on Nigeria's rice production by using data from 1971 to 2018. The study used the bounds test for cointegration and the novel dynamic ARDL (DYNARDL) simulation approach. The bounds test shows a long-run relationship. The empirical results show that temperature has a positive long-run effect on rice production; however, this result is insignificant. Furthermore, rainfall has a negative long-run effect on rice production. The ecological footprint has a positive long-run effect on rice production. In contrast, carbon footprint has a negative long-run effect on rice production. For non-climatic input factors, potash fertilizer has positive short-run and long-run effects on rice production, and rice area harvested has a positive but insignificant long-run effect on rice production. The study provides valuable policy directions for the policymakers in Nigeria.

Climate change adaptation strategies by rice processors in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The paper examined adaptation strategies used by rice processors in Ebonyi State to manage climate risks. The paper used random sampling technique to select respondents and questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Cross-sectional data collected from 98 rice processors were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression model. The results indicated that majority of the rice processors perceived prolonged dry season and increased rainfall intensity as the main climate risks in the state. Livelihood diversification, storing of paddy, and reliance on climate information were the major adaptation strategies used by the rice processors to manage the climate risks. The main determinants of climate change adaptation strategies of rice processors were education, membership of cooperative societies, income, training on rice processing and climate risk management, experience of climate hazards, and ownership of assets. The processors faced various barriers to adoption which are mainly related to capital needs, competition from foreign brands, access to basic infrastructure and roads and information, high cost of labour. It is recommended that government support be given to the rice producing communities in terms of basic infrastructure and policies to protect the industry. Also, regular workshops/trainings should be held to train processors on best climate risk management practices and encourage registration of processor cooperatives/relevant associations.

Farmers’ Preference and Willingness to Pay for Climate-Smart Rice Varieties in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

This paper examined farmers’ preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for climate-smart rice varieties in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 80 respondents were purposely selected from 5 major rice growing communities in the study area. Questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Also, data on climate elements (such as temperature and rainfall volume) for a period of 35 years (1986–2020) were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Multinomial logit model, ordinary least square (OLS) regression model, descriptive statistics and trend analysis were employed for data analysis. The results show that FARO 44 was preferred by 95% of the farmers for grain size, 100% of farmers preferred it for days to maturity, 76.2% preferred it for strength of grain to withstand breakage during processing, 98.75% preferred it for potential yield (tons) and plant height (cm) and 87.5% preferred it for its ecological adaptation. Farmers’ preference and willingness to pay for climate-smart rice varieties were influenced by attributes of these varieties and knowledge of such technologies, primary occupation, farm size, extension visits and access to media information and farm size. This study recommends that government should provide extension agents with the adequate resources to enable them carry out their duties more effectively.