EFFECTS OF RICE- BASED PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES ON PERCEIVED CLIMATE CHANGE IN LOW LAND AREAS OF ONDO STATE

Abstract

The study examined how farmer perceived the effect of rice production activities on climate change in selected areas of Ondo state. It was designed to determine the level of involvement of farmers in rice production activities; determine the perception of farmers towards climate change issues, its negative contribution and identify the coping strategies the respondents are adhering to in rice production activities. A well structured interview schedule was employed to collect primary data in Ondo state, Nigeria. Three (3) Local Government Areas (L.G.As) namely Ifedore, Akure South and Akure North were purposively selected from the study area base on their volume of rice production in the state. A total of one hundred and thirty five (135) respondents were interviewed in the study, the results collected were analysed using descriptive statistics tools such as mean, frequency, percentage etc, and inferential statistics such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi Square. The study revealed that the mean age of respondents was 45years. Majority (48.1%) owned small farms 5-10 hectares, while majority (84%) does not consciously obtain information on climate change. Level of involvement in production activities showed that most respondents (grand mean score x = 1.86) were involved most time in the planting season. Use of pesticide followed by land soaking before cultivation (x=2.23) had highest levels of involvement amongst climate change inducing production activities. Only few (14.8%) were actually aware of the influences of the production activities on climate change.