Rice Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change and its Effects on Rice Production and Livelihoods in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the perception of rice farmers’ on climate change, its pattern of change and how it affects rice  production and livelihoods in Kura Local Government Area in Kano State, Nigeria. A survey research design was  employed using semi structured questionnaire. Four hundred (400) respondents were selected randomly from the  selected 10 wards based on their availability for the study. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistic in  the SPSS version 20.0. The study revealed that rice farmers in the area have very good knowledge on climate change, its pattern of change and effects on rice yield. The study further revealed that the existence of climate change due to its  effects on rice yield in the area makes farmers in the area to have a positive perception on the changing pattern of  climate change and their effects on rice production. Also the study established that the farmers’ positive perception on  the presence of changing pattern of climatic variables in the area affects the growing yield of rice in the inputs and the  outputs. The study recommends that Kano state government and non-governmental organizations should gear up  towards motivating the farmers to actively adopt mitigating measures of climate change for sustainable rice farming  system and sustenance of livelihood options in the area. The rice farmers association and the agric department of the  local government in collaboration with government at both state and federal should put more efforts in providing  drought resistance seedling to farmers and adopt effective mitigation measures through early warning to control loss of  farm products during harvesting. Creating awareness on effects of climate change and crop management practices   to control dreadful crop loss in the area was also recommended.