1Suleiman Musa Balarabe, & 2Elisha Ikpe (AUTHORS)
¹Department of Geography & Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
²Department of Geography, Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author’s Email: elishaikpe@fceodugbo.edu.ng
ABSTRACT: Climate change has continued to threaten crop production in northern Nigeria through irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells, flooding, declining soil fertility, increased pest and disease outbreaks, and frequent crop failures, thereby undermining farmers’ livelihoods and food security. Despite the potential of agricultural insurance to reduce these production risks and strengthen farmers’ resilience, its adoption among crop farmers remains relatively low. This study analyzed crop farmers’ willingness to adopt agricultural insurance as a climate change adaptation strategy in Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A quantitative research approach was adopted, using a structured questionnaire administered to 384 crop farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique. Of the 384 questionnaires administered, 377 valid responses were retrieved and analyzed using descriptive statistics in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27. The findings revealed that respondents perceived irregular rainfall (x̄ = 4.13), delayed planting resulting from rainfall variability (x̄ = 4.12), prolonged dry spells (x̄ = 4.09), increased cost of crop production (x̄ = 4.08), rising temperatures (x̄ = 4.05), crop failure (x̄ = 4.02), and reduced household farm income (x̄ = 4.01) as major impacts of climate change on crop farming. The study also found a high level of willingness among farmers to adopt agricultural insurance, particularly when claims are paid promptly (x̄ = 4.23), insurance is affordable (x̄ = 4.16), insurance is recognized as an effective climate change adaptation strategy (x̄ = 4.16), and government support is available (x̄ = 4.10). The study concludes that crop farmers are willing to adopt agricultural insurance, provided that affordability, awareness, and institutional trust are enhanced. It recommends that the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, government agencies, extension services, and insurance providers strengthen awareness campaigns, subsidize insurance premiums, and ensure prompt settlement of claims to improve agricultural insurance uptake and enhance climate resilience among crop farmers.
Keywords: Agricultural insurance; Climate adaptation; Crop farmers; Climate resilience; Willingness