Local Knowledge of Climate Change Among Arable Farmers in Selected Locations in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

One of the essential steps to manage and adapt to the changing climate is having adequate knowledge on the changes in the climatic pattern. This chapter analyzed the responses of rural arable farmers to the change observed in climate in Southwestern Nigeria, which include their source of information, level of awareness, and perception of the amount of rainfall and temperature, leading them to take decisions on how to combat and/or adapt to the changes. Rural arable farmers in four states within the Southwestern Nigeria made up the study population (through random selection). Findings show the climate is no longer stable but fluctuating. Farmers in the area under study have a high perception about climate change; ironically a large percentage of the farmers are yet to put into practice the adaptation methods for reasons such as high cost, religious belief, attachment to tradition, low economic status, and others. Sources of information include educated children, mass media, the Internet, and majorly personal observation. It was concluded that adapting agricultural practices to climate change, regular localized observation of climate variables and the local media disseminating updated adaptations strategies and weather reports would go a long way to reduce the impact of climate change on the society.