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.
