ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON RURAL GOAT FARMING IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analysed climate change adaptation strategies on rural goat farming in Enugu State, Nigeria. According to the findings, the majority of the respondents (50%) were between the ages of 31 and 40 years, and were mostly married and had a household size of 6 to 10 people, (50%) had completed secondary school as their highest level of education, and (47.6%) had 7 to 9 years of experience mitigating the effects of climate change on goat production in the study area. The results also showed that the main sources of information on climate change in the study area were family and friends, radio, social media, television, and extension agents. As a coping mechanism, majority of the respondents reared highly resistant goat breeds on their goat farms. The findings also indicated that goat production and ownership, access to extension agents, and awareness of climate change were all positive and significant at 5% level. This suggests that if these factors are maintained or increased, there will be an increase in the mitigation strategies used to combat climate change as well as an increase in goat production in the study area. Extension agents' information on climate change was positive and significant at 1% level, and household`s size was positive at the 10% level as well. This suggests that as these variables are maintained, new ideas and innovations for climate change adaptation are adopted, making goat production in the study area sustainable.