Climate change information needs of rural farmers in enugu state, nigeria

Project Abstract

<p> Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for<br>rural farmers. However, the farmers’ ability to effectively respond to climate change challenges<br>is determined by the quality of information available to the farmers and how easily the<br>information is accessed. The study sought to assess the information needs of rural farmers on<br>climate change. A total of I52 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique.<br>Percentages, mean scores, standard deviations, factor analysis and multiple linear regression<br>model were used in data analysis and presentation. The findings show that all the respondents<br>indicated awareness of climate change. However, the knowledge score used indicated that none<br>of the respondents had high knowledge on climate change. The respondents’ major and<br>perceived reliable sources of knowledge were personal observations and friends. These<br>information sources according to the findings were useful especially on adaptation. The major<br>areas of information needs of the farmers on adaptation were use of improved varieties,<br>occupational diversification, use of weed tolerant varieties, change in timing of farm operations,<br>use of herbicides and pesticides and incorporating residue into the soil. However the findings<br>indicate that the following were the perceived major constraints to effective communication of<br>climate change poor communication linkage between scientists, extension agents and farmers,<br>lack of proper enlightenment, lack of participatory approach to communication, poor use of local<br>dialect in translation and communication of climate change information jargon to rural farmers,<br>lack of communication facilities etc.<br>The respondents’ perceived strategies that can be used for<br>effective communication of climate change information were use of vernacular through mass<br>media to disseminate climate change information, use of participatory approach in<br>communicating climate change information, incorporating the needs, perception and concern of<br>the target audience and ensuring relevance of information to the target audience, ensuring<br>reliability of information, use of credible experts who have knowledge of vernacular, and<br>bridging the communication gap between scientists, extension agents and farmers. Other<br>strategies include use of local and religious leaders to disseminate climate change information,<br>use of local languages (dialect) and folks, use of audio visual aids and provision of timely<br>information, training of communicators of climate change information, strengthening agricultural<br>extension delivery system, provision of communication facilities by government to climate<br>change communicators, and use of service providers to disseminate climate change information<br>through short message service. The findings reveal that the following had significant influence<br>on knowledge level (p≤0.05) years spent in formal education, membership of social/religious<br>organization, number of climate change training, farm size, marital status, access to credit, and<br>climate change training. <br></p>

Project Overview