The Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Practices and Outputs in Bayelsa State (Published)
This study examined the impact of climate change on agricultural practices and outputs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Agriculture in the state, largely dominated by subsistence and smallholder farmers, is highly vulnerable to climate variability due to its dependence on rainfall and the region’s fragile ecosystem. Adopting the use of both primary and secondary sources, this research highlighted how rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, flooding, sea-level rise, and increased salinity intrusion have altered the agricultural landscape of Bayelsa State. The study adopted the Political Ecology Theory as a template of study. It revealed that climatic shifts have disrupted planting and harvesting cycles, reduced soil fertility, and contributed to declining crop yields, fish stock depletion, and post-harvest losses. The study underscored the adaptive strategies (including crop diversification, shifting cultivation, the use of traditional forecasting methods, and migration to less flood-prone areas) employed by farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change in Bayelsa State. The paper established that without coordinated interventions such as climate-resilient agricultural policies, infrastructural support, access to improved seedlings, and sustainable environmental management, Bayelsa’s food security and rural livelihoods will remain at risk. It recommends for the promotion of climate-smart agriculture, strengthening of agricultural extension and early warning systems, and investment in infrastructure and irrigation facilities amongst others. It concludes that the impact of climate change on agricultural practices and outputs in Bayelsa State is both profound and multidimensional, affecting crop production, fishing activities, soil fertility, and the livelihood security of farming communities.
Keywords: Agriculture, Bayelsa State, Climate Change, Diversification, Food Security
Les pratiques d’utilisation des pesticides par les maraîchers au Bénin : perspectives sociologiques (Published)
The populations of Benin, a country in the West Africa, have incorporated vegetable products into their diets since several decades. To satisfy the growing demand and to cope with the various factors of crop losses, the country’s truck farmers resort to pesticides. The objective of this research is to make an inventory of the practices of pesticide use by truck farmers in Benin. For so doing, an interdisciplinary sociological reflection has been conducted. A methodological approach focusing on investigations (interviews, questionnaires and documentary review) was carried out nearby 245 truck farmers distributed throughout the whole national territory. The analysis of these different data allowed us to make several observations.Although market gardening is practiced throughout the national territory, a strong inconstancy appears in the production from year to year. The phytosanitary products based on Lambda Cyhalothrin, very numerous on the markets, are widely used by the truck farmers of Benin. The majorities of chemical pesticides identified are not permitted and are aggravating sources of risk factors for the use of chemicals. The lack of control over the distribution channels by the State favors this situation. Truck farmers often omit to protect themselves before the chemical pesticides use.The numerous sensitizations on the risks linked to these products have led to changes in behavior towards the self-consumption of organic production but the marketing of non-organic products.
Keywords: Agriculture, Benin, Vegetables, fruits, market gardening, pesticides