Farmers’ perceived impact of climate change on agricultural ac-tivities in Otukpo local government area of Benue State, Nigeria

Oluwole Matthew Akinnagbe ,C P Onah,Michael Olatunji Olaolu ,Ar Ajayi

doi:10.4038/tare.v17i2.5306

Oluwole Matthew Akinnagbe , C P Onah + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4038/tare.v17i2.5306

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Abstract

The study was undertaken to ascertain farmers’ perceived impact of climate change on agricultural activities in Otukpo local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 60 respondents using interview schedule. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select the farmers. Data were analyzed using per-centage and mean statistic. Farmers were aware of the phenomena related to climate change such as rise in both day and night temperature (M= 1.83) and increased variability in rainfall (M= 1.78). The major perceived impacts of climate change on agricultural activities were decrease in agricultural production (M=2.63) and decrease in area for cultivation as a result of erosion (M=2.58). The adaptation methods used to cushion the impact of climate change in the area were planting of cover crops like melon and groundnut (95.0%), practicing of crop rotation (93.3%) and early harvesting of crops (93.3%). The paper recommended that farmers’ adaptation capacities to climate change need to be urgently strengthened by extension agents visitation to disseminate more recent information on climate change

Highlights

Climate change is one of the most serious environmental threats facing mankind worldwide
The impacts of climate change are more pronounced in sub Saharan Africa because agricultural productivity greatly depends on precipitation and natural conditions of the environment
The study was conducted in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most serious environmental threats facing mankind worldwide. It affects agriculture in several ways, including its direct impact on food production (Enete and Amusa, 2010). The main human activity that is most likely to have a large impact on climate is the burning of “fossil fuel” such as coal, oil and gas and these fuels contained carbon. The impacts of climate change are more pronounced in sub Saharan Africa because agricultural productivity greatly depends on precipitation and natural conditions of the environment. This situation is precipitated by the fact that the changes in climate are taking place in an environment characterized by extreme poverty

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