The paper examines capacity building of livestock extension staff as a strategy for the improvement of livestock farming/animal agriculture in Imo state, Nigeria. A total of 120 livestock extension staff from the Livestock Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources was used for the study. Questionnaire was used to elicit information and percentages, mean and standard deviation were used for analysis. Results showed that the reasons for capacity includes-to build the capacity of rural livestock farmers (M = 2.65), provision of livestock services (M = 2.53), improve productivity/quality of livestock product (M = 2.77) to satisfy/meet market demand (M = 2.97) among others. The following methods of capacity building existsworkshop training (100%), mentoring (95.8%), brainstorming sessions (82.8%) etc. The following core areas of training for livestock extension staff were general farm management (M = 3.05), animal health management and hygiene (M = 3.31), veterinary medicines and biologicals (M = 3.42), animal feeding and watering (M = 3.33), environmental and infrastructure (M=3.07), animal and products handling (M=3.42).

Article Info This study was carried out to analyze indigenous knowledge practices employed by farmers for climate change adaptation and mitigation by farmers in Southeast Nigeria. A total of 360 farmers were randomly selected from 3 states of Southeast, Nigeria. Questionnaires and oral interview were used to elicit information from the respondents. Mean and Standard deviation were used to analyze data collected. Results showed that the famers were fully aware of climate change variability as indicated by a high mean score of the various prediction signs such as erratic rainfall pattern (M = 3.25), heavy flooding (M =2.65), long rainfall (M =3.36) among others. To adapt and mitigate climate change, the farmers used the following indigenous practices-crop diversification (M=3.46), crop rotation (M =2.61), multiple cropping (M =3.03), mulching (M =2.44) soil fertilization (M = 2.98), agro forestry (M=2.79), use of planting pits (M = 2.74), use of calabashes to store water (M= 3.41), use of ashes for pest control (M = 3.84), use of cannabis to control new castle diseases (M = 2.40) etc. The above practices are safe and have proved successful for centuries and we recommend that they should be integrated into the modern practices of agriculture.

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