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Accepted Paper:
CLIMATE CHANGE PERCEPTION AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG RURAL RICE FARMERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.
Onyinyechukwu Onubogu
(Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, South-East Nigeria)
Paper short abstract:
Food security is threatened by the impact of climate change, and as Africa is dependent on Agriculture, it is vulnerable to those impacts. Numerous strategies have been suggested as ways to mitigate the effects of climate change, but, farmers' perception of climate change is very essential.
Paper long abstract:
Climate change leads to a decrease in the yield and quality of crops, therefore adaptation and coping measures are required to reduce the climate vulnerabilities. The perception of farmers to anticipated climate change may be a significant determinant of both climate change impacts and coping strategies. This paper aimed at determining rural rice farmers' perception of climate change, and the coping strategies adopted by these farmers to mitigate the impact of climate change. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 200 rice farmers from rice producing areas of Anambra state. Descriptive statistics and 5 point - Likert scale were used for the analysis. Result of the 5point Likert scale showed that 52% of the farmers were aware of the concept of climate change. These rice farmers' perception of climate change were high intensity of sun, variation in rainfall duration, alteration in cropping calendar due to weather, prolonged dry and rainy seasons, heavy and windy rainfall, and poor yield of crops. Only 18% of the respondents perceived insect attack as effect of climate change. The coping strategies adopted by these farmers include adjustment of planting calendar, mixed cropping, moderate use of agrochemicals and fertilizers. About 27% of the farmers acknowledged usage of improved varieties as a coping strategy. The study suggests that more awareness on climate change and its coping strategies should be created and the use of plant varieties that can withstand changes in the climate promoted.