CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION NEEDS OF RURAL FARMERS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Thesis Abstract

Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially forrural farmers. However, the farmers’ ability to effectively respond to climate change challengesis determined by the quality of information available to the farmers and how easily theinformation is accessed. The study sought to assess the information needs of rural farmers onclimate change. A total of I52 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique.Percentages, mean scores, standard deviations, factor analysis and multiple linear regressionmodel were used in data analysis and presentation. The findings show that all the respondentsindicated awareness of climate change. However, the knowledge score used indicated that noneof the respondents had high knowledge on climate change. The respondents’ major andperceived reliable sources of knowledge were personal observations and friends. Theseinformation sources according to the findings were useful especially on adaptation. The majorareas of information needs of the farmers on adaptation were use of improved varieties,occupational diversification, use of weed tolerant varieties, change in timing of farm operations,use of herbicides and pesticides and incorporating residue into the soil. However the findingsindicate that the following were the perceived major constraints to effective communication ofclimate change poor communication linkage between scientists, extension agents and farmers,lack of proper enlightenment, lack of participatory approach to communication, poor use of localdialect in translation and communication of climate change information jargon to rural farmers,lack of communication facilities etc.The respondents’ perceived strategies that can be used foreffective communication of climate change information were use of vernacular through massmedia to disseminate climate change information, use of participatory approach incommunicating climate change information, incorporating the needs, perception and concern ofthe target audience and ensuring relevance of information to the target audience, ensuringreliability of information, use of credible experts who have knowledge of vernacular, andbridging the communication gap between scientists, extension agents and farmers. Otherstrategies include use of local and religious leaders to disseminate climate change information,use of local languages (dialect) and folks, use of audio visual aids and provision of timelyinformation, training of communicators of climate change information, strengthening agriculturalextension delivery system, provision of communication facilities by government to climatechange communicators, and use of service providers to disseminate climate change informationthrough short message service. The findings reveal that the following had significant influenceon knowledge level (p≤0.05) years spent in formal education, membership of social/religiousorganization, number of climate change training, farm size, marital status, access to credit, andclimate change training.