74
labor intensity, lack of knowledge, and lack of market access. Duku et al. (2018)
studied the impacts of climate change on cropping patterns in tropical sub-humid
watershed areas in central Benin, which are either used for rain-fed sequential cropping or can support rain-fed sequential cropping. They reported that about 41% of
cultivated areas in the Upper Ouémé watershed will decrease to between 2% and
16% by 2050, depending on the climate change scenario. Duku et al. thus concluded
that farmers will have to shift to single cropping systems or adopt improved agronomic practices, including drought-resistant and short-cycle cultivars.
Effects of Climate Variability on Main Crop Yields
Respondents were also asked to give their perceptions on how ECV affected yields
of the main crops grown. Figure 3 shows the variations in yields of rice, maize,
groundnuts, and cassava under drought, flood, and normal conditions.
With reference to Fig. 3, respondents indicated that compared to the normal year
where most crops yields were relatively high, crop yields during drought and flood
conditions were quite low due to ECV events. This result is consistent with the findings of Mariara and Karanja (2006) in Kenya and that of Eid et al. (2006) in Egypt.
Maize yields, however, were slightly higher during the floods compared to the rest of
the crops. Contrary to other crops that yield highly in the normal year, cassava crop
yielded slightly higher in drought conditions than the rest of the crops. This demonstrates that cassava is more drought resistant than the rest of the crops. Shumetie and
Yismaw (2018) reported in their study that households, on average, lost about 8.06
quintals of crop because of insufficient rainfall. Shumetie and Yismaw also found
that an increase in summer temperature had a negative effect on productivity, and it
caused an average loss of 8 quintals for 86.88% of the sample respondents. Further
discussions to determine perceptions of respondents on whether individual crop
yields had increased, decreased, or not changed due to ECV events indicated that
there is a general decline in the yields of all crops. The perceptions were similar for
both male and female respondents interviewed, further confirming the decline in
crop yields due to ECV events. The perceptions are shown in Fig. 4. For instance,
female farmers (68%, 60%, 60%, and 58%) perceived that yield decreased for
groundnuts, cassava, maize, and rice, respectively, whereas male farmers (74%, 66%
66%, and 65%) perceived reduced yield for cassava, maize, groundnuts, and rice,
respectively. Most women perceived that yields reduced for groundnut production
while most men perceived reduced yield for cassava production. Further analysis
shows that in both farming systems, an average of 65% of the respondents perceived
that yields for all the major crops had reduced while an average of 25% perceived
that the yield had increased as a result of climate variability significantly different at
p = 0.023 < 0.05. About 10% of the respondents perceived that yield remained the
same despite climate variability. Greg et al. (2011) reported that most studies revealed
that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability,
and household income in some areas that already have high levels of food insecurity.
A study on the impacts of climate change on rice production and causes of simulated
T. Akongo and C. Chonde
labor intensity, lack of knowledge, and lack of market access. Duku et al. (2018)
studied the impacts of climate change on cropping patterns in tropical sub-humid
watershed areas in central Benin, which are either used for rain-fed sequential cropping or can support rain-fed sequential cropping. They reported that about 41% of
cultivated areas in the Upper Ouémé watershed will decrease to between 2% and
16% by 2050, depending on the climate change scenario. Duku et al. thus concluded
that farmers will have to shift to single cropping systems or adopt improved agronomic practices, including drought-resistant and short-cycle cultivars.
Effects of Climate Variability on Main Crop Yields
Respondents were also asked to give their perceptions on how ECV affected yields
of the main crops grown. Figure 3 shows the variations in yields of rice, maize,
groundnuts, and cassava under drought, flood, and normal conditions.
With reference to Fig. 3, respondents indicated that compared to the normal year
where most crops yields were relatively high, crop yields during drought and flood
conditions were quite low due to ECV events. This result is consistent with the findings of Mariara and Karanja (2006) in Kenya and that of Eid et al. (2006) in Egypt.
Maize yields, however, were slightly higher during the floods compared to the rest of
the crops. Contrary to other crops that yield highly in the normal year, cassava crop
yielded slightly higher in drought conditions than the rest of the crops. This demonstrates that cassava is more drought resistant than the rest of the crops. Shumetie and
Yismaw (2018) reported in their study that households, on average, lost about 8.06
quintals of crop because of insufficient rainfall. Shumetie and Yismaw also found
that an increase in summer temperature had a negative effect on productivity, and it
caused an average loss of 8 quintals for 86.88% of the sample respondents. Further
discussions to determine perceptions of respondents on whether individual crop
yields had increased, decreased, or not changed due to ECV events indicated that
there is a general decline in the yields of all crops. The perceptions were similar for
both male and female respondents interviewed, further confirming the decline in
crop yields due to ECV events. The perceptions are shown in Fig. 4. For instance,
female farmers (68%, 60%, 60%, and 58%) perceived that yield decreased for
groundnuts, cassava, maize, and rice, respectively, whereas male farmers (74%, 66%
66%, and 65%) perceived reduced yield for cassava, maize, groundnuts, and rice,
respectively. Most women perceived that yields reduced for groundnut production
while most men perceived reduced yield for cassava production. Further analysis
shows that in both farming systems, an average of 65% of the respondents perceived
that yields for all the major crops had reduced while an average of 25% perceived
that the yield had increased as a result of climate variability significantly different at
p = 0.023 < 0.05. About 10% of the respondents perceived that yield remained the
same despite climate variability. Greg et al. (2011) reported that most studies revealed
that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability,
and household income in some areas that already have high levels of food insecurity.
A study on the impacts of climate change on rice production and causes of simulated
T. Akongo and C. Chonde