ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2018-10
Authors
OGBONNAYA, Samuel Uchechukwu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The uncertainty about future climate changes, low resource base of semiarid tropics and the dominant traditional methods of adaptation in the study areas has made it imperative to invest in adaptation in order for nations to be fully prepared to cope with adverse changes with possible increase in severe consequences. Hence this research aimed at assessing farmers adaptation strategies to climate change in Sokoto State. This was achieved by a set of objectives which include to characterize the climate of the study area, assess the awareness of farmers on climate change and examine the impact of climate change on agriculture as well as adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers in the study area. Rainfall and temperature data of the study area for a period of 30 years (1986 – 2015) were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in Sokoto state and used to characterize the climate of the study area. Total annual rainfall, length of rainy season, onset, cessation, mean maximum and minimum temperature (important parameters to plant growth and development) were derived using time series analysis. A total of 384 close ended questionnaire were used to generate data to address other objectives such as assessment of farmers awareness to climate change in the study area, examine the perceived effect of climate change on crop yield and animal production in the study area, identify the adaptation strategies to climate change adopted by farmers in the study area and examine factors hindering adaptation of modern techniques in the study area. Krejcie and Morgans (1970) method of sample size determination was used to determine the sample size and purposive sampling was applied to administer the interview based questionnaire. Statistical techniques such as regressional analysis were used to analyse the data. The result showed an increasing annual rainfall amount. The mean annual rainfall for the period under study was 679.4mm. The highest rainfall was recorded in 2010 (1146.7mm). The
xv
mean length of rainy season was 120 days. The study showed an increasing trend in the onset of rains. The mean onset date is 5th June. However, the trend line for the cessation of rainfall is showing late cessation. The average cessation date of rain in the study area within the thirty years study is 5th October. The mean maximum temperature is 35.60C. The study revealed that 91% of farmers in the study area were aware of climate change. Eighty percent agreed that millet was the most cultivated crop in the study area, while over 85% are involved in rearing cattle and donkeys because they are valuable in farming operations. To cope with the changing climate change, 57% of farmers in the study area adopted mix-cropping, while 42% adopted mixed farming. The study finally revealed that 49% of farmers agreed that inadequate knowledge of modern adaptation techniques was major hindering factor to adaptation strategies as well as lack of information on climate issues via extension services, lack of credit/loan facilities, lack of access to water for irrigation and lack of access to farm inputs. The study concludes that the fluctuations in climate characteristics of the study area affected agricultural production negatively and that adaptation strategies have significantly contributed to agricultural production in the study area. Based on the findings of the research, the study recommends that farmers should in addition to the present adaptation strategies adopt more viable and modern adaptive strategies such as, building water harvesting schemes, water storage ponds and improved irrigation system so as to maximize the available land and the climate conditions that favours their agricultural production. Farmers should concentrate on the production of millet and rearing of cattle and donkeys to maximize crop yield and animal production. Government should enhance the introduction of agrometeorological information to farmers as well as formulate policies that will ensure the supply of farm inputs (seed, insecticide, and fertilizer), credit and loan facilities as well as fund specialized research on crops and animal that will take advantage of new environmental conditions created by climate change in the study area.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AHAMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,
FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA – NIGERIA
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES,, CLIMATE CHANGE,, SOKOTO STATE,, NIGERIA,