IMPACT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE ON SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN SAKI COMMUNITY OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The impacts of climate change and variability have been a cause of controversy and debate for many years in many parts of the developing world. Perceptions vary about the effects of climate change and variability. This study assessed small-scale farmers’ perceptions on climate change impacts and possible adaptation strategies adopted by farmers in Saki community of Oyo State. Data were generated through a well-structured questionnaire, targeting 150 respondents in the study area. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The result revealed that 74.7 % of the farmers were aware of climate change prior to the time this survey was conducted. Moreover, a large proportion 92 % of the farmers, claimed to have noticed that temperature was increasing while 47.3 % perceived decreased in rainfall. The farmers’ perception on temperature and rainfall were supported by trend analysis, which indicated that total rainfall was decreasing by 2.1mm per year with increasing temperature of 0.029OC yearly. They reacted to these changes in climate by adopting various climate-adaptive strategies, prominent among which were planting of crops resistant to drought and pest/disease, government assistance, using NIMET seasonal rainfall prediction forecast and mulching to reduce water loss. However, the study also revealed that, there was a positive and significant relationship between sociodemographic characteristics of farmers and their perception on climate change suggesting that only farmers’ age, education level and household income per annum had significant effect on their perception on climate change