Effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures used by women garden egg farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures used by women in garden egg production in Enugu State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select eighty respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of semi-structured interview schedule and analysed with descriptive statistical tools such as frequency count, percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. The major effects of climate change on garden egg production were scarcity of floral resources (x̅ = 3.00), increased spread of pests and pathogens (x̅ =2.78), reduced pollen production in flowers (x̅ = 2.68), increased garden egg susceptibility to pathogens (x̅ = 2.67) and decreased quantity and quality of garden egg production (x̅ = 2.67). The effectiveness of adaptation strategies used by women in garden egg production were change of farming sites (x̅ = 2.97), establishment of water reserve and farming close to irrigated area (x̅ = 2.92). The identified constraints to adapting to the present climate change scenario included: unstable weather (x̅ = 3.00), unavailability of modern harvesting techniques (x̅ = 2.75), increased pest and disease pathogens (x̅ = 2.68) and poor access to materials and equipment (x̅ = 2.63). Hence, this study recommends provision of incentives such as materials and equipment’s and increased training of garden egg farmers on how to reduce and prevent pests and diseases outbreak.