Analysis of awareness and adaptation to climate change among farmers in the Sahel Savannah agro-ecological zone of Borno State,Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the awareness and adaptation to climate change among farmers in the Sahel Savannah agro-ecological zone of Borno State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 225 respondents selected through the Multi-stage sampling technique. A socio-economic profile of the respondents indicated that 48.89% were above 45 years of age and majority (78.23%) had educational qualifications below the secondary school level. The study also revealed that a majority (79.12%) of the respondents were small-scale farm holders and more than half (67.56%) had fewer than 7 extension contacts during the 2010 farming season. An analysis of the source of climate change awareness revealed that majority (82.22%) of the respondents was aware of the phenomenon of climate change. Of that number, extension service and friends/neighbors were ranked high as source of awareness about climate change, accounting for 47.57% and 232.43% respectively. Analysis of adaptation practices used by the respondents showed that planting ahead of rains (97.78%) and planting of cover crops 80.00% were used most. Analysis of the relationships between some selected socio-economic variables and the use of climate change adaptation measures revealed that educational qualification and the number of extension contacts were the most important factors influencing the use of adaptation measures among the respondents. The main constraints on climate change adaptation measures by farmers in the study area were poor financial resources (86.67%) and unavailability of weather information (77.78%). The study concluded that the majority of farmers were aware of climate change and its consequences. The study also concluded that although the majority of farmers were engaged in husbandry practices aimed at climate change adaptation, they were constrained by some factors; therefore we recommended that extension education should be strengthened to boost farmers’ awareness of climate change and prepare them for adaptation measures and that appropriate/indigenous technologies be promoted for adaptation by farmers.