Effects of Climate Change on Foodways of Selected RURAL Communities in Benue State, Nigeria

The effects of climate change permeate all facets of human life including their foodways. These effects have been hardly mitigated as some of the Climate Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs) are in conflict with the cultural beliefs of the people. This study therefore, analysed the foodways of the people of Benue state, Nigeria occasioned by climate change. A total of nine (9) rural communities were purposively selected and two hundred and eighteen (218) farm families were selected through random sampling method for the study. The study specifically focused on the Climate Smart Agricultural Practices and their perceived effects on foodways of the people. The results of Factor analysis on the constraints to adoption of climate smart agricultural practices among rural farmers showed three distinct factors that contributed to the constraints in adoption of climate smart agricultural practices. Factor 1 which is Financial/infrastructural includes poor infrastructure (0.803), lack of resources (0.813), and high cost of labour (0.772). Factor 2 which is social constraints includes lack of training on climate smart agricultural practices (0.854), lack of capital (0.869), lack of information (0.759), and unwillingness to change from the older practices (0.667). Factor 3 which is Economic and institutional constraints includes lack of understanding (0.529) and lack of national level planning (0.521). The logit regression results further indicate a negative effect of the CSAPs used on the foodways of the people. Based on this result, it was concluded that the tenacious adherence to the cultural belief system has made it difficult for the effects of climate change to be mitigated by the people. Continuous sensitization and advocacy by extension and agents and agencies should be intensified to bring the people to the frame of mind that is amenable to change.