RICE FARMERS’ AWARENESS OF CLIMATE- SMART AGRICULTURE (CSA) PRACTICES IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

This study was carried out on rice farmers awareness on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices in Taraba state with specifically the study assessed rice farmers awareness on Climate Smart Agriculture practices, analyses the level of rice farmers awareness on different types of CSA practices, identify the rice farmers sources of information on CSA practices, determine the frequency of usage of CSA practices by rice farmers and identify rice farmers constraints in adopting the CSA practices in Taraba State. Multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 210 respondents, data obtained were analyze using frequency, percentage distribution and mean. The result on the farmers awareness on various CSA practices shows that little above average (57%) were aware CSA practices. On the level of knowledge on CSA Practices by farmers were avoidance of flood prone areas with a mean score(x̄=1.95), good agronomy practices (x̄=1.80) and water conservation (x̄=1.87), among others. Major sources of CSA practices information extension agents (35.8%), radio (22.5%), friends/neighbors’ (16.7%), fellow farmers (12.5%). System of rice intensification (94.2%). System of Rice Intensification (94.2%), avoidance flood prone areas (87.5%), were the mostly used CSA practices among farmers. Constraints affecting practices of CSA were high costs of labour (87.3%), untimely access to farm inputs (81.7%) and high cost of hired farm land (75.8%). Based on the findings, of the study it is therefore recommended that Taraba State Government should partner with research institutes particularly National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service to provide timely information regarding practices of CSA to farmers and creation of regular awareness and updates on CSA using town criers, media such as radio/television, newspapers, internet and farmers' cooperatives will go a long way to in encouraging CSA practices in Taraba state.