Determinants of Knowledge and Attitude of Extension Professionals to Climate Change in Anambra State, Nigeria: A Multivariate Logistic Analysis

Abstract

Aims: It ascertained the knowledge and attitude of extension personnel to climate change, the determinant factors and strategies for improving knowledge and altitude to climate change. Study Design: A survey design was used for the study. Place and Duration: The study was undertaken in Anambra State using all the extension personnel (93) in Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2015. Methodology: Data were collected using questionnaire and analysed by use of descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Results show that majority (63.4%) of extension professionals had high knowledge of climate change and 93.5% expressed favourable attitude to climate change. The multinomial logistic analysis shows that position and year of experience in extension organization were significantly (p= 0.05) related to knowledge of climate change. Similarly, the binomial regression shows that year of experience and years spent in school had significant relationship with attitude of extension professionals to climate change. The respondents perceived that knowledge and attitude could be improved and sustained through adequate funding (M=3.85), short courses (M=3.82), orientation programmes (M=3.76) and workshop/seminars (M=3.77) and others. Conclusion: The study concludes that extension organizations should provide training opportunities for extension personnel to sustain positive attitude and improve knowledge on emerging issues in climate change. Institutions of higher learning should increase climate change content of curriculum for training prospective extension personnel to encourage early exposure and commitment to climate change issues. Favourable policy and institutional environments should be promoted by the government to increase responsiveness of extension organizations to climate change.