An Assessment of the Interaction between Climate Change and Plastic Products among Agro-Market Owners and Horticultural Farmers in the Southern Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed climate change impact on the use of plastic products among agro-marketers and horticultural enterprises in Calabar agricultural zone of Cross River State. A Structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The study adopted the multistage sampling procedure to select a total of 200 respondents from agro-market and horticultural enterprises. Results show that climate change influenced the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents by; increasing their labour ( = 2.7), enhancing their membership into professional, cooperative, market or farm organization ( =2.53) and improved their knowledge through plastic and climate change awareness ( = 2.47). Climate change influenced agro-market enterprises through payment of carbon emission tax ( = 2.94), increase the cost of packaged goods due to unfavourable plastic policies (2.92) and increase in the release of harmful chemicals from plastic waste due to higher temperature to the environment (2.75). Recommendations advocated improvement in the level of climate change awareness on the use of plastic products for agro- marketers and horticulturists in the study area in order to reduce the severe impact of climate change on products in plastic packages. Also, that the production of plastic products be monitored by government agencies to ensure a total removal or lowest rate of incorporation of hazardous chemicals that are easily influenced by the climate to alter the quality of products in plastics.