Perceived capacities of public extension personnel for climate information dissemination to farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the perceived capacities of public extension personnel for climate information dissemination to farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 72 extension agents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and were analysed using a multinomial logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Some of the climate information disseminated were information on appropriate measures to take to prevent water shortage due to adverse weather conditions (75%) and early warning signs on events such as drought, flooding etc. (70.8%). Radio and/or television (68.1%), and the Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources (68.1%) were the main sources of climate information. Respondents perceived that they had low capacities for producing and airing radio and television messages on climate change (15.3%) and carrying out impact analysis of climate change effects on farmers (18%). Results of the multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that years of experience (x² =6.244; p = 0.044); and highest educational qualification (x² =11.021; p = 0.088) had positively significant effects on capacity to disseminate climate information. Extension staff should be encouraged to go for specialized studies on climate change and be trained to interpret and disseminate agro-meteorological data and information.