ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’AWARENESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION MEASURES FOR YAM PRODUCTION IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the farmers’ awareness on climate change and adaptation measures for yam production in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 100 respondents from five wards. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages; means and chi-square analysis. The results revealed that the respondents were between the ages of 30-40 years old, mostly male, married and 46% had informal education. The mean household was 9 persons, the mean farm size was 3ha and the mean annual income was ₦19, 085:00k. The result further revealed that the respondents were fully aware of climate change. The climate change adaptation measures adopted by the farmers in the study area includes: Early planting (28%), Using early maturing crop (27%), Using resistance improved varieties (11%) and Planting more than one crop (11%). The constraints to adoption of climate change adaptation measures includes: Lack of capital (24%), Lack of knowledge (30%), Lack of extension agent; (19%) and Lack of information (11%). The farmers should form cooperatives to tackle the problem of fund, Government should provide farm inputs at affordable and Government should provide adequate extension station for agricultural information, demonstrations of innovations prior to adoption provision of inputs were offered as recommendations.