Review of Small Holder Farmers’ Climate Change Knowledge Level in North Central (Benue State) Nigeria

Abstract

Farmers in Nigeria lack adequate knowledge of climate change. Farmers’ knowledge of climate change is a critical factor in the development of a sustainable climate change adaptation framework for Nigeria and other developing countries. This study examines the knowledge of farmers in the Benue State of Nigeria on climate change in 2016, and the data were analysed using IBM SPSS 21. Multi-stage and Probability Proportional to Size sampling technique was used to select 360 respondents from three agricultural zones in the study area. Data was collected using interview schedule. Descriptive (mean, percentages and frequencies) and inferential statistics were utilised in data analysis. A 5-point Likert scale was adopted using a composite knowledge score to achieve the mean cut-off level. Results show that a higher proportion (40.2%) of the farmers had moderate knowledge of climate change, 39.6% had high knowledge while 20.1% had low knowledge of climate change. The majority (>60%) of the respondents agree that bush burning, air pollution, tree felling and global warming are causes of climate change. However, only a few proportions (20.2%) of the respondent's belief that industrial activities and firewood usage causes climate change.  A majority (>60%)  of the respondents agree that mixed cropping system, use of irrigation, use of the drought-tolerant crop, livelihood diversification and use of improved variety is a means of coping with the adverse effects of climate change. All (100%) of the respondents are aware of climate change. A majority (92.5%) of the respondents are male with mean household size, farm size (in hectares) years of farming experience (in years) of 5.3, 2.3 and 20.4 respectively. It was recommended that the knowledge level of farmers on climate change should be improved by providing them relevant information through the mass media, movies and by providing climate change educational platforms in schools and through outreaches.