ANALYSIS OF NOMADIC PASTORALISTS’ COPING STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY IN KATSINA AND ZAMFARA STATES, NIGERIA
ANALYSIS OF NOMADIC PASTORALISTS’ COPING STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY IN KATSINA AND ZAMFARA STATES, NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2016-11
Authors
IDOMA, Kim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study aimed at analyzing nomadic pastoralists‟ coping strategies to climate variability in Katsina and Zamfara states, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 367 pastoralists from each state. The research centered on primary data acquired through questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion and in depth Interview. Both descriptive (frequencies, percentages, mean) and inferential statistics(Chi-square and Product Moment Correlation Coefficient) were used to analyze the data. Results indicate that 83% of pastoralists in Katsinaand 77% in Zamfara perceived decrease in rainfall, while 89% in Katsina and 78% in Zamfara perceived increase in temperature. Rainfall is found to have major effects on pastoralists‟ livelihood activities.Predominant coping strategies embarked upon by pastoralists included moving long distances to find pasture (RII=0.9) anduse of crop residues as animal feeds (RII=0.9). Major constraints to coping strategies in the study area were conflict over scarce resources-pasture and water (2.7) and agricultural expansion limiting livestock movement (2.6). Inferential statistics employed to assess the relationship between climate variability and its impact on animal production as well as pastoralists‟ coping strategies revealed that rainfall and temperature significantly impacted on forage availability and quantity (r = 0.302, P≤ 0.000) and animal mortality (r = -0.633, P ≤ 0.000),whereas educational qualification (168.150, p≤ 0.05) and level of income (79.062, p≤ 0.05) were among the most important factors influencing the use of adaptation measures. It is the conclusion of this study that climate variability has greatly constrained pastoralists‟ socio- economic activities in the study area. Hence, the study recommends among others that policy makers, planners, development agencies and donors should invest on livestock breed improvement by introducing exotic breeds with high resistance to drought and diseases at subsidized prices to pastoralists, increase extension farmers‟ ratio and make extension services within reach of pastoralists and improve climate information forecasting and dissemination through local awareness campaign
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) DEGREE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
ANALYSIS, NOMADIC PASTORALISTS’,, COPING STRATEGIES,, CLIMATE VARIABILITY,, KATSINA,, ZAMFARA STATES,, NIGERIA,