ABSTRACT
Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate
change and variability, especially for rural farmers. However, the farmers’
ability to effectively respond to climate change challenges is determined by
the quality of information available to the farmers and how easily the
information is accessed. The study sought to assess the information needs of
rural farmers on climate change. A total of I52 respondents were selected using
multistage sampling technique. Percentages, mean scores, standard deviations,
factor analysis and multiple linear regression model were used in data analysis
and presentation. The findings show that all the respondents indicated
awareness of climate change. However, the knowledge score used indicated that
none of the respondents had high knowledge on climate change. The respondents’
major and perceived reliable sources of knowledge were personal observations
and friends. These information sources according to the findings were useful
especially on adaptation. The major areas of information needs of the farmers
on adaptation were use of improved varieties, occupational diversification, use
of weed tolerant varieties, change in timing of farm operations, use of
herbicides and pesticides and incorporating residue into the soil. However the
findings indicate that the following were the perceived major constraints to
effective communication of climate change: poor communication linkage between
scientists, extension agents and farmers, lack of proper enlightenment, lack of
participatory approach to communication, poor use of local dialect in
translation and communication of climate change information jargon to rural
farmers, lack of communication facilities etc. The respondents’ perceived
strategies that can be used for effective communication of climate change
information were: use of vernacular through mass media to disseminate climate
change information, use of participatory approach in communicating climate
change information, incorporating the needs, perception and concern of the target
audience and ensuring relevance of information to the target audience, ensuring
reliability of information, use of credible experts who have knowledge of
vernacular, and bridging the communication gap between scientists, extension
agents and farmers. Other strategies include: use of local and religious
leaders to disseminate climate change information, use of local languages
(dialect) and folks, use of audio visual aids and provision of timely
information, training of communicators of climate change information,
strengthening agricultural extension delivery system, provision of
communication facilities by government to climate change communicators, and use
of service providers to disseminate climate change information through short
message service. The findings reveal that the following had significant
influence on knowledge level (p≤0.05): years spent in formal education,
membership of social/religious organization, number of climate change training,
farm size, marital status, access to credit, and climate change training.
CHAPTER
ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background
information.
The International Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 considered data from climate observations across
the world and concluded that the evidence for warming of the global climate is
‘unequivocal’. Climate change refers to any change in climate overtime, whether
due to natural variability or as a result of human activity (IPCC, 2001).
Globally, climate change is considered as one of the serious threats to sustainable
development, with adverse impacts expected on the environment, human health,
food security and physical infrastructure (Africa-Wide Civil Society Climate
Change Initiative for Policy Dialogues (ACCID), 2010). Climate change affects
all aspects of the climate, making rainfall less predictable, changing the
character of the seasons, and increasing the likelihood or severity of extreme
events such as floods.
Scientists agree that rising
concentrations of human-produced greenhouse gases (GHG) in the earth's
atmosphere are the causes of climate change. For example, the increased
industrialization in the developed nations introduces large quantities of
greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon (IV) oxide (CO2), methane
(CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere. These
GHGs are the primary causes of global warming (IPCC, 2007a).
The
global increases in carbon (1V) oxide (CO2) concentration are due
primarily to fossil fuel use and land
use change, while those of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)
are primarily due to agriculture (IPCC, 2007a). Clearing of
forests for agricultural production replaces forests with crops thereby
reducing the rate at which carbon sequestration (trapping and
There is no doubt that the
earth is getting warmer and human beings are mainly to be blamed (Spore, 2008).
According to Leggett (2008) continued population and economic growth, with
dependence on fossil fuels and needs for expanding agricultural lands, are
expected to drive GHG emissions and induce climate change over the 21st Century
to levels never experienced in human civilization.
While benefits may accrue to
some people who may experience a limited amount of climate change, the
aggregate effects are expected to become increasingly adverse, with people
living in dry regions or along low-lying coasts, and people with low incomes,
expected to be especially vulnerable (Leggett, 2008). In other words, climate
change is not an issue that only has implication for energy supply or
environment; rather, it touches all the resources that we depend on in life. It
puts extra burdens on the social and economic challenges that the poorest
already face, emphasizing and increasing their vulnerabilities due to the
dependence of their livelihoods on climate sensitive natural resources and
their weak social protection.
The IPCC (2007a) describes Africa generally as “one of
the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability. Many
parts of Africa in 2007 suffered severe drought while floods on the other hand
destroyed roads and buildings and wiped out millions of hectares of farmlands
in many parts of the continents (Spore, 2008). Local knowledge indicates that
climate change impacts are leading to significant negative effects on
livelihoods in Africa, particularly among subsistence and small-scale
agricultural communities.....
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