ABSTRACT
The
overall purpose of the study was to determine the competence needs of extension
agents for agricultural adaptation to climate change. Specifically, the study
sought to ascertain the knowledge level of extension personnel on climate
change; ascertain perceived roles of extension in agricultural adaptation;
identify perceived competence needs of extension agents for agricultural
adaptation; determine factors militating against competence building of
extension agents for agricultural adaptation and identify the possible
strategies to building competence of extension agents. The study tested the hypothesis
that there is no significant relationship between personal/institutional
characteristics and knowledge level of extension personnel on climate change
and there is no significant relationship between personal factors and attitude
of extension personnel to climate change. Data were collected using
questionnaire administered to 93 extension personnel in the state Agricultural
Development Programme. Data were presented with percentage and bar chart and
analysed using mean score, standard deviation, factor analysis. The hypotheses
were tested using logit model. Result of the study showed that 57.3% of
extension personnel were females, while 43.0% were males. The mean age of the
respondents was 45.2years and 93.5% of the respondents were married. Majority (53.3%)
of the personnel had B.Sc/HND, 33.7% had OND/NCE, while 13.0% had M.Sc.
Majority (63.4%) of the respondents had high knowledge of climate change and
favourable attitude ((93.5%)) towards climate change. The respondents perceived
roles of extension in climate adaptation were conducting workshops, seminars
for creating awareness/knowledge of climate change and adaptation (M=3.74),
facilitating access to relevant information (M=3.54), carrying out
demonstration for teaching farmers measures used to mitigate or adapt to the
effect of climate change (M=3.45) and others.
The respondents
perceived communication (M=2.93), technical knowledge/skill/information on
climate change (M=2.89), participatory extension strategies (M=2.81), use of
information communication technology (M=2.72), facilitation (M=2.72) as major
areas of competence needs of extension agents. The major constrains militating
against competence building of extension agents for climate change adaptation
include inadequate fund (M=3.80), inadequate knowledge and technology on
climate change (M=3.70), lack of incentives/motivation of extension agents
(M=3.64) and others. The position of the extension personnel in extension
organization and year spent in the organization were significantly (B=-5.844,
p<0.05)(B=0.487,p<0.05) related to knowledge level of extension
personnel, respectively. The study recommends that extension workers should
possess mix of competence in the areas of subject matter, communication, ICTs
and others for agricultural adaptation. The government should provide the
needed infrastructure and funds to extension organization for training of
extension personnel. Also there should be regular update of extension agents on
climate change through in-house training underpinned by strong linkage and
networking with research and other institutions.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background information
Agriculture
is a strong and efficient activity which plays pivotal roles in provision of
food, fibre, fuel and income for human existence. It gainfully employs over 70%
of the world’s population and main source of income for rural households in
developing countries (Chayal, Dhaka and Suwalka. 2010). Agriculture is an
important sector of the Nigeria’s economy because eighty percent of the rural
dwellers depend on it as their major occupation, engaging in such activities as
farming, hunting, fishing and livestock farming (Ekong, 2003). However in
Nigeria, most of the agricultural production is rain fed. It depends highly on
weather and climate in order to produce food and fiber necessary to sustain
human life. Consequently, it is expected to be vulnerable to climate
variability and change (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
2007).
Climate
change is defined as a change in the average climatic condition of a place.
(Anyadike, 2009). It refers to a statistically significant variation in either
the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended
period (typically decades or longer) (IPCC, 2007). According to Seiz and Foppa
(2007) in Umunnakwe (2011) climate change is the result of many factors
including the dynamic processes of the earth, external forces including
variations in sunlight intensity and more recently, human activities or
anthropogenic factors. The most concern of anthropogenic factors are the
increase in the carbon dioxide (CO2), Chlorofluoro carbons (CFC),
Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and water vapour
level due to emissions from fossil fuels, cement manufacture, agriculture and
deforestation (Steinfeld, 2006; Oyebade, 2009).
According
to IPCC (2007), agriculture contributes significantly to climate change,
primarily through the production and release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as
carbon dioxide, methane and Nitrous oxide among others. Ebil (2000) in Okolo
(2011) reported that it is responsible for approximately fifteen percent (15%)
of all the greenhouse gas emission that help
Globally,
climate change has a lot of negative effect to life . It is considered as one
of the serious threats to sustainable development, with the adverse impacts
expected on the human health, food security, environment, and physical
infrastructure (African-Wide Civil Society Climate Change Initiative for Policy
Dialogues (ACCID), 2010). FAO (2009), reports that it alters the condition for
food safety by increasing diseases on plants and animals. Due to increase in
temperature caused by climate change, the oceans expand raising sea levels and
reducing the amount of land available for agriculture (Devereux and Edwards
2004). Warmer oceans experience greater exploration resulting in higher
rainfall which together with rising sea levels, contribute to erosion and flooding
(McCarthy, Canziani, LelaryDokkemet al., 2001; Lama and Derkota 2009).
Many parts of Africa are suffering severe drought and floods which destroyed
roads and buildings and wiped out millions of hectares of farmlands (Spores,
2008).
Climate
change is projected to have significant impacts on conditions affecting
agriculture, including temperature, carbon dioxide, gracial runoff,
precipitation and the interaction of these elements (Yesuf, Difalce, Deressa,
and Kohlin, 2008). It affects agriculture seriously through change in
availability of water which leads to frequent floods and drought resulting in
variability in crop yields in different ecological zones (IPCC, 2007). Adverse
effect is also.....
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