Knowledge and perception of climate change among peasant farmers in a forest-savannah transition zone of Odo-Otin Area of Osun State

Abstract

This study assessed the level of awareness of climate change and its perceived impacts and adaptation methods among peasant farmers in a forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 162 households were selected from five communities in Odo-Otin local government area of Osun State, Nigeria for questionnaire survey. Data obtained were summarized using frequency, percentages and mean. Respondents were mostly male (69.0%), with average age of 52 years, and mean monthly income of  ₦9,500 with primary education (65.5%). Most of the farmers were smallholders with an average of 2.6 acres of farmland, acquired mostly through inheritance (49%), with considerable (average of 15.5 years) farming experience. Majority (76.0%) of the farmers claimed to be aware of climate change which manifested in the form of flooding (42.5%), soil erosion (22.3%) and drought (24.8%), while 51.8%of the respondents identified climate change as a possible cause of dwindling crop yield. Electronic (73.6%) and print (36.4%) media were identified as sources of climate change information, with no reference to extension agents. Farmers perceived rainfall (62.0%) and temperature (32.4%) as elements that have changed considerably in recent years, while irrigation (32.1%), planting of drought-resistant species (20.4%), and shifting cultivation (16.3%) were identified as common adaptation strategies. However, over 30% of the farmers adjudged their chosen adaptation measures ineffective. This has brought to the fore the gap between level of awareness of climate change and adaptive capacity of the farmers. Future research should be targeted at addressing this missing link.

Keywords: Climate change, adaptive capacity, crop yield