Rural Peoples’ Perception to Climate Variability/Change in Cross River State-Nigeria

Abstract

The rural people have been recognized as knowledge holders on climate variability/change and key actors for developing policies to mitigate and cope with its effects. The study attempts to assess perception level of rural people to Climate change in selected communities in Cross River State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 rural dwellers in 4 communities. This data centered on knowledge (awareness) level of climate variability/change causes, effects, mitigation and adaptive strategies. The data generated were analyzed using the descriptive statistics. Results showed 71.7% of the people are aware of climate change. They also indicated that the onset of rains is now delayed while cessation is earlier against the trend in the past. This corroborates the meteorological parameters obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agency. The Study further indicates that, though there are natural causes, 66.7% of rural people accepted human activities as major causes of climate change/variability. The results also showed that the effects of climate in rural areas include poor crop yields (56.7% response); reduced soil fertility (66.7% response); increase flood (56.7%), poverty and food shortage (50% response). The sources of peoples' awareness show widespread information from environmental education/sensitization by NGOs and extension workers as well as media which at the moment is lacking and limited to radio talks and jingles. It is recommended that the more awareness should be created on the effect of human activities on climate; also, indigenous knowledge system should complement global modern knowledge systems to enhance climate change mitigation.

Knowledge of Climate Change and the Perception of Nigeria’s Coastal Communities on the Occurrence of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans

“…Respondents stated in addition of the aforementioned, the appearance of diseases which is in agreement with the work of [24] which reported that strong winds and stormy weather were perceived by the communities and has led to occurrence of many diseases which affected both adults and children who are most vulnerable. Furthermore, the study of [25] in Bangladesh also revealed an unusual increment and unpredictability in the rainfall pattern.…”

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies Used by Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

“…It is pertinent to strengthen adaptation of poor farmers to increase their productivity. Ufuoku (2011) in Egbe at al (2014), corroborate this fact adaptation to climate change requires farmers to realize that the climate has changed and they must be assisted to identify useful adaptation strategies and implement them. This questions are what this study seeks to answer.…”

“…Adaptation generally is primarily tailored towards agricultural productions principally through irrigation and planting crop resistant species, most local farmers are aware that the stress on their local environment and livelihoods has increased and low capacity for adaptation is a serious issue (Jones et al, 2011in Egbe, Yaro, Okon & Bisong, 2014. According to Pettengell (2010) in Egbe at al (2014), poverty, more than any other factor, determines vulnerability to climate change and limits adaptive capacity. It is pertinent to strengthen adaptation of poor farmers to increase their productivity.…”

Effects of climate variability on the choices of livelihood among farm households in Anambra State, Nigeria

“…From the study, it was showed that crop yield is sensitive to variability in the time of onset and cessation of the rainy or growing season. Egbe et al (2014) studied the rural peoples' perception of climate variability in Cross River State, Nigeria. However, the study did not cover the effects of climate variability on livelihood of farmers, though it is a known that increasing poverty in rural areas has a link with climate variability.…”