Effects of climate change on pests and diseases, its awareness and adaptation strategies among Cocoa farmers in Abia State

Abstract

The study was a survey aimed at understanding the awareness level among cocoa farmers in Abia state on climate change, its effects on Pests and Diseases of cocoa and how they adapt and mitigate the effects. A multi stage-sampling procedure was used to select 50 respondents from Bende local government area and 50 respondents from Ikwuano local government area of Abia State. Result showed that 96% of the respondents are aware that climate change has a negative effect on cocoa production as a result of high incidence of Pest and diseases and that the effect ranges from high to moderate. Majority of the respondent in the study area adopted various adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on Pests and Diseases prevalence. High level of awareness, adaptation and coping strategies adopted by farmers, made them less vulnerable to the adverse effects of Pests and Diseases as a result of the change in climate has been currently experienced.