Abstract
As climate change is projected to increase in vulnerable areas of the world, we examined farmers’ perceptions of this change and their attitudes to adaptation in two communities (Zango and Kofa) in northwestern Nigeria. A total of 220 arable farming households completed a livelihoods survey preplanting. The perceptions survey was followed by a survey of 154 households post-harvest for the attitudes questions based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). In addition to the positive responses from the farmers towards climate change perceptions, TPB findings reveal that such perceptions could lead to intentions to adapt as determinants of attitude were significant. Subjective norm was a significant predictor of adaptation intention in Kofa, but not in Zango. Perceived behavioural control, though useful, was not a determinant of climate change adaptation intention. Most importantly, principal component analysis (PCA) of climate change perception variables allowed us to discriminate smallholder farming households and can be used as a tool for segmentation into climate change-perceiving and nonperceiving farming households. Efforts towards improving the determinants of behavioural intention for the poorly perceiving group could lead to better decisions to adapt to climate change and provide more targeted extension support in the future.
Highlights
Climate change is projected to have the greatest impact on agricultural production and food security in the developing world, where communities are dependent on the environment for their livelihoods (Neil et al 2003; Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa 2014; Dang et al 2014a)
This paper utilized the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explore the perception and adaptation responses in two communities in northwestern Nigerian drylands to determine the influence of perception on attitude towards adaptation behaviour for future climatic challenges
The first focuses on the communities’ baseline conditions, while the second focuses on the application of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB)
Summary
Climate change is projected to have the greatest impact on agricultural production and food security in the developing world, where communities are dependent on the environment for their livelihoods (Neil et al 2003; Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa 2014; Dang et al 2014a). This paper utilized the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explore the perception and adaptation responses in two communities in northwestern Nigerian drylands to determine the influence of perception on attitude towards adaptation behaviour for future climatic challenges. Perceived behavioural control determine is a certain association between intentions and behaviour to understand how attitude can impact linked to the theory of ‘self-efficacy’ (Bandura 1977, 1982), and like subjective norm and attitude, goal attainment Assert fields that TPB is limited by its inability address applicationand in Armitage predicting human behaviour in(2003) It istoat the perception the societal is, collective outcomestoare affected a person’s behavioural feat the other stage that the uniquepredicament; factors thatthat influence one person carry out abybehaviour of interest and (Serenari et al 2012). Materials and Methods a behaviour of interest and the other to act differently can be learned (Ajzen 1991)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
