Climate Variability and Extreme Climate Events: Rural Women Farmers’ Perception in Southwest Nigeria

Abuloye Ap,Moruff Ga

doi:10.4172/2167-0587.1000166

Abstract

This study examined the level of rural women farmers understanding of their local climate and their indigenous perception of climate variability and extreme climate events. One hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered randomly to a pool of registered women farmers in the study area. Temperature and precipitation data from a local meteorological station was used to examine the perception of the sampled women farmers. The result showed that rural women farmers understand their local climate but found it highly variable and unpredictable. This was confirmed by the result of statistical analysis conducted on the temperature and precipitation data. The result further suggest a positive trend in temperature (b=0.018, P 0.05) within the said period. This suggests that annul temperature has increased in the study area while annual precipitation volume has reduced. Majority of the women farmers perceive extreme climate events to be anthropogenically induce. The study concluded that while some rural farmers lack adequate knowledge of their local climate, vast majority of them understands how the climate works.

Highlights

Climate, often defined as the statistical average of prevailing weather condition over a considerable period of time is a major determinant of agricultural profitability or loss
The women farmers were asked how they perceive the trends of climate parameters. 86.6% of the respondents believe the annual amount of rainfall has reduced while 3.4% and 10% believe that rainfall has been constant and increasing respectively
This study investigated the rural women farmers’ perception of climate variability and extreme climate event based on their indigenous understanding of air temperature and rainfall

Summary

Introduction

Often defined as the statistical average of prevailing weather condition over a considerable period of time is a major determinant of agricultural profitability or loss. Extreme climate event is often defined as the consequence of excess or deficit in climate occurrence. The severity of these events is often harmful to biodiversity and the environment. Climate variability and extreme climate events are some of the major environmental issues affecting agricultural produce in the sub Saharan region of Africa. Gleditsch [1], on the other hand, contested that anthropogenic climate change is a major proponent these disasters. The severity of these events can as well be linked to both natural and anthropogenic process

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion