The study investigated the impacts of climate change on cassava production and the adaptation strategies employed by smallholder cassava farmers, using quantitative data collected from 190 respondents via an interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation. The findings revealed male dominance (72.2%) among the farmers, a mean household size of 5 ± 2 members, a mean age of 52.17 ± 10.41 years, a farm size of 3.8 ± 2.2 hectares, and a mean farming experience of 23.7 ± 12.7 years. Deforestation (88.1%) and bush burning (85.6%) emerged as the primary causes of climate change, while retarded cassava growth (85.3%) and yield reduction (76.3%) were the most significant effects. Planting droughtresistant (mean = 2.23) and improved varieties (mean = 2.09) were the key adaptation strategies utilised, with 63.2% of farmers exhibiting high utilisation. Limited climate information (85.3%) and inadequate finance (82.6%) were the main barriers. Household size (r = 0.351, p ? 0.01), farming experience (r = 0.265, p ? 0.01), and information sources (r = 0.396, p ? 0.01) positively correlated with adaptation strategies adopted, while age (r = -0.145, p ? 0.05) was inversely related. These findings provide localised information on adaptive behaviour and socioeconomic drivers, underscoring the need for enhanced meteorological advisory services, subsidised inputs, and targeted financial support mechanisms to strengthen smallholder adaptation and sustain cassava production.
Adaptation strategies; barriers to adaptation; climate change impact; cassava production; small-holder farmers; Osun State Nigeria; perceived causes of climate change; demographic influence; sustainable cassava farming; drought resistant varieties