ADAPTATION MEASURES UTILIZED BY FOOD CROP FARMERS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT IN NORTHWEST DISTRICT OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the adaptation measures utilized by farmers to mitigate climate change effects in Akwa Ibom State North West district, Nigeria. Specifically, the study ascertained the level of awareness of the farmers on climate change, examined the perceived effect of climate change on farming and human activities, determined the extent of utilization of the adaptation measures to mitigate climate change, and identified the constraints to the utilization of the adaptation measures. Data for the study were obtained from 145 farmers, using a multi-stage sampling procedure and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that 54.5% of the respondents were women, mostly married with an average number of 6 persons per household. The farmers earned a mean income of N90,500 annually and had been farming for an average of 25.5 years. The climate change awareness level was high, and the major sources of information on climate change were radio (20%), contact farmers (18.6%), and peer groups/friends (17.9%). Consequently, 67% of the adaptation strategies were utilized by the farmers. They ranged from mulching, increased weeding, and mixed farming to the diversification of sources of livelihood giving a total of 1.66 mean scores. The study also revealed that climate change had a significant effect on farming activities. Furthermore, all the variables presented were significant constraints to adaptation measures to cope with the effects of climate change. The study therefore suggested that extension workers should be trained more on the issues of climate change to assist farmers to better understand changes in the climate as it affects their farming/livelihood sources.