The study was carried out in Benue state, Nigeria to analyze climate change effects among rice farmers. Questionnaire/interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of 90 respondents in the study area. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean score and standard deviation. Findings of the study revealed that majority (82.2%) of the respondents were males; married (96.7%) with a mean age of about 44 years. Major perceived causes of climate change were use of generators which produce fumes (M=2.16), continuous cropping (M=2.11), human activities (tillage) (M=1.94), use of inorganic manure (M=1.92), burning of fire wood (M=1.94), bush burning (M=1.82), deforestation (M=1.80), increase in population which leads to loose of farmland (M=1.80), land degradation due to soil erosion (M=1.60), over grazing of farmland by livestock (M=1.66), and burning of fossil fuel by industries and automobile (M=1.50), among others. Results also indicate that unemployment (M=1.74), desertification (M=1.68), loss of farmland to flood and erosion (M=1.64), increase vulnerability to soil erosion (M=1.56), increase in pests and diseases infestation in rice farms (M=1.52), increase in growth of weeds (M=1.56), easy loss of water from the soil (M=1.48), reduces soil fertility (M=1.42), causes stunted growth in rice crops (M=1.42), among others were perceived effects of climate change in rice production. Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing of farmland by livestock, use of inorganic manure, etc. should be discouraged in order to cushion the effects of climate change as well as increasing productivity among rice farmers.
Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes in the existing literature by indicating effects of climate change which has been a source of concern that poses serious environmental threat to mankind. Climate change has been a major challenge for stakeholders in agricultural production resulting in poor yields of crops and loss of revenue for farmers.
Keywords:
Climate change, Effects, Causes, Vulnerability, Rice farmers, Nigeria.
S. A. Adejuwon, "Impact of climate variability and climate change on crop yield in Nigeria," presented at the Contribution Paper to Stakeholders Workshop on Assessment of Impact and Adaptation to Climate Change (AIACC), University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2004.
D. A. Kuta, "Nigeria: Climate change and agriculture in Nigeria," Global Environment Change., vol. 14, pp. 273-282, 2011.
D. Gumm, "Nigeria: Climate change to affect rice yields. Vanguard Newspaper." Available http://allafrica.com/nigeria/climate [Accessed September 20th 2014], 2010.
Intercontinental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "Climate change 2007" The Fourth Assessment Report Synthesis Report for Policy Makers, 2007.
National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), "Training manual on rice production produced for the presidential initiative on paddy production for Abakaliki and Omor rice mills and other rice processors in South East Zone of Nigeria," presented at the Workshop Held at Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, 2004.
B. A. Sava and A. A. Adebayo, "Spiral and temporal variation in the onset, cessation and length of rainy season in the Sudano Sahelian region of Northern Nigeria," presented at the 2010 NUPRS/NAHS Conference, Held at University of Lagos, 2010.
A. A. Adebayo, "Climate: Resource and resistance to agriculture," presented at the Eight Inaugural Lecture of Federal University of Technology, Yola, 2010.
Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Climate change: Road to coping strategies. Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Environment, 2008.
V. V. Apagu, G. M. Kwami, and E. Y. Garba, "Adaptation to climate change as a challenge on agricultural production," presented at the National Conference on Climate Change at Federal University of Technology, Yola, 2011.
E. Oladipo, "Towards enhancing the adaptive capacity of Nigeria. A review of the country’s state of preparedness for climate change adaptation," Report Submitted to Heinrich Boll Foundation Nigeria, 2010.
F. N. Onumadu, Agro-forestry extension as an effective tool for mitigating climate change in Nigeria. In: S. K. Adeyoju and S. O. Bada (Eds.). Reading in sustainable tropical forest management: Essays in Honour of Professor Labode Popoola. Ashi, Bodija: Zenith Book House 3, Lydia Close, 2010.
T. O. Olatoye and O. J. Pelemo, "Causes and implications of climate change and sustainable renewable natural resources management," in Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of FAN, held in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, 2008, pp. 197 – 201.
P. O. Ajah, "The hungry desert. Tell magazine," Telecommunications, vol. 45, pp. 28 – 31, 2006.
L. Popoola, "Understanding climate change: Context, drivers and impacts." Tribune Newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria, 2010, pp. 1-4.
National Population Commission (NPC), National population census figure. Abuja, Nigeria: NPC, 2006.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Adaptation to climate change in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries: Perspective, framework and priorities. Rome: FAO, 2007.
C. P. O. Obinne, "Adoption of improved cassava production technologies by small-scale farmers in Bendel State," Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology, vol. 11, pp. 12-15, 1991.
D. Maddison, The perception and adaptation to climate change in Africa. CEEPA Discussion Paper No. 10, centre for environmental economics and policy in Africa. South Africa: University of Pretoria, 2006.
H. U. Nwalieji, The impact of lower Anambra irrigation project (LAIP) on improved rice production in Ayamelum LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria. B. Agric. project department of agricultural extension. Nsukka: University of Nigeria, 1999.
M. Kandlinkar and J. Risbey, "Agricultural impacts of climate change: If adaptation is the answer, what is the question?," Climate Change, vol. 45, pp. 529 – 539, 2000.
E. N. Ajani and E. M. Igbokwe, "Promoting entrepreneurship and diversification as a strategy for climate change adaptation among rural women in Anambra State, Nigeria," Journal of Agricultural Extension, vol. 16, pp. 72-73, 2012.
B. Zhu, "Climate change affecting crops in China: Vulnerability and the scope for adaptation," Climatic Change, vol. 43, pp. 745–788, 2005.
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View