ASSESSING THE COPING STRATEGIES OF RURAL PASTORALISTS TO DROUGHT IN SOKOTO STATE, NORTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

In recent decades, drought has been identified as part of the several regular climate-related hazards happening in many African countries including West Africa, often with devastating implications on food security. Studies have shown that the land surface temperature has increased over the recent years with 71oC in 1984 and 77oC in 2002 and 97 in 2019 respectively as shown in the LST Map, which can trigger drought occurrences and other climate-related hazards. Drought occurrence is principally a climate-related event that cannot be totally effaced though it can be managed. This study is aimed at appraising drought severity in the study area, using Geographic Information System (GIS) and remotely sensed data obtained from United States Geological Survey (USGS) as well as Precipitation data between the years 1984, 2002 and 2019. Questionnaires were distributed to respondents to capture their views on drought and its impact on pastoralists The study revealed that the study area witnessed drastic changes of vegetation. The higher vegetation record from NDVI map in the year 1984 with 1.0 and the least of vegetation was record in the year 2019 with 0.8799 in the order hand the highest amount of rainfall was record in 2019 and least amount was record in 1984 according to SPI analysis Hence, there is a continues fluctuations in the climate condition from the observed period of the study. Result from the questionnaire administered showed that 97% of the pastoralists are aware of the menace of drought in their area. They also agree that there is climate change as their environment is becoming hotter and drier. Thought 48% of the pastoralists have developed various strategies to fight drought