Agricultural Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change Impacts in Lake Chad Basin

Climate change plays a vital role in the shrinkage of Lake Chad basin where approximately 38 million natives comprising of discrete cultural groups presently occupy the basin. Lately, decadal metrological data shows inconsistent pattern of rainfall, and this variability makes the region and its agricultural potentials extremely vulnerable by affecting crop production especially rainfed farming and irrigation which is the sole practice indigenous to the locale. Although, intermittent large quantity of rainfall degrades land productivity and destroys farmlands as observed in flood recession and fish farming activities. In reducing these extremities, farmers have adapted different adaptation strategies to minimize losses and improve yield. These include managerial practices like mixed cropping, crop diversification, and soil moisture conservation through tillage. However, some few feasible contributions can be utilized to support resilience to climate change to aid agricultural adaptation strategies like cash transfer and planting varieties of crops that are drought-resistant.