Information Needs for Climate Change Adaptation among Rural Farmers in Owerri West Local Area of Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

4 Information on climate risks communicated timely, in clear and relevant terms and through 5 credible sources is essential for mobilizing decision makers across societies to take actions 6 that will enhance their capacity and willingness to adapt to climate change. An informed 7 public is better able to prepare for a likely occurrence of climate disaster and thus avert or 8 cope with its attendant effects. The study analyzed information needs for climate change 9 adaptation among rural farmers in Imo state, Nigeria. Specifically, it determined the socio-10 economic characteristics of the farmers, investigated their knowledge of climate change, 11 identified their sources of information on climate change, identified their information needs 12 for climate change adaptation and analyzed the socio-economic determinants of the farmers' 13 needs for climate change adaptation. Data were elicited from 120 farmers using structured 14 questionnaire and interview schedule. These were analyzed using percentages, bar charts and 15 mean statistics. The hypothesis was analyzed using ordinary least square regression model at 16 0.05%. Results revealed that majority (95.1%) of the farmers described their knowledge of 17 climate change as change in rainfall pattern. It also revealed that the farmers identified radio 18 (61.6%), extension agents (35.8%) and newspaper (27.5%) as their major sources of 19 information on climate change. The result further revealed that the farmers identified effects 20 of climate change (M = 4.15), causes of climate change (M = 4.06), vulnerable groups to 21 climate change (M = 4.03), appropriate socio-cultural practices in climate change adaptation 22 (M = 3.99), crops adaptable to climate change (M = 3.96), sources of information on climate 23 change (M = 3.93), agroforestry practices (M = 3.89), flood/erosion control practices (M = 24 3.85), afforestation practices (M = 3.75), carbon trading (M = 3.68) and adaptation strategies 25 (M = 3.34). The study recommended the organization of capacity building programmes 26 relevant to agriculture, the timely generation and dissemination of information on climate 27 change and the reviewing of extension curriculum to accommodate the training of extension 28 personnel on climate change issues as strategies for enhancing adaptation to climate change.