标题：Post-harvest handling of rubber coagula and constraints to use of indigenous climate change adaptation techniques by small-scale rubber farmers in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria
摘要：This study examines post-harvest handling of rubber coagula and constraints to use of indigenous climate change adaptation techniques by small-scale rubber farmers in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. A sub-set of the population of 63 rubber farmers in Iguoriakhi Farm Settlement, Edo State were examined for post-harvest handling of rubber coagula. Data were collected from 286 small-scale rubber producers using questionnaire and analyzed using frequency distribution, mean scores. The findings show that majority (73.33%) of respondents dispose their rubber coagula once a month to middlemen using auto coagulation means of preservation. The findings also reveal that the price of coagula per kg is N130, which is very low. The average annual income of respondents from the sale of rubber coagula is between N40,000-N50,000 which is low. Major indigenous climate change adaptation techniques employed by respondents include inter-cropping (100%), changing/adjusting dates of planting (90.2%), use of firewood ash to control white root rot (62.2%) and application of palm kernel oil around tree to control termites (52.4%). Major constraints to respondents’ use of indigenous climate change adaptation techniques include low capital (91.3%), poor infrastructural facilities (85.7%), high cost of inputs (83.9%), inadequate information on climate change (82.2%), inadequate credit facilities (75.9%), poor contact with agricultural extension agents (71.3%). In view of these, the researcher recommends that farm inputs should be made available to rubber farmers at subsidized rate and at appropriate time through a well-coordinated system.
