Vulnerability analysis of rice value chain actors to climate variability in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The focal objective of this study was to examine vulnerability of rice value chain actors (RVCAs) to climate variability in Benue State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was used to select the respondents (input suppliers, producers, processors, and marketers) based on their dominant activities. Vulnerability index (VI) of each RVCA was analyzed using three indicators: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Since the respondents of this study had overlapping roles and completed the same instrument, then the results would indicate vulnerabilities in the RVCAs’ dominant activities. Results based on exposure show that rice producers were highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions (VI = 0.84) while rice marketers were moderately vulnerable (VI = 0.50). Results based on sensitivity indicate that processors (VI = 0.67) and producers (VI = 0.60) were highly vulnerable. Results based on adaptive capacity show that processors (VI = 0.68) and marketers (VI = 0.63) were highly vulnerable. The overall result indicated that rice producers (VI = 0.65) were most vulnerable to climate variability among other RVCAs, and that their vulnerability was largely influenced by their very high vulnerability to exposure (VI = 0.84). There is need for climate stakeholders and the government to build capacity of RVCAs in exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to withstand extreme weather and climate change and alleviate their vulnerability. Government and NGOs should prioritize subsidy disbursement to rice farmers due to their high VI among RVCAs.