Survey of Forest and Farming Adaptations to Climate Change in Ondo State, Southwestern, Nigeria

Abstract

Omidiwura F T, Alabi P G, Babalola G F, Adeleke A H and Adelasoye K A

Climate change and variability is one of the biggest global threats to agricultural production for the current and future generations. The study analysed the survey of farming adaptations to climate change in Ile Oluji/Okeigbo, Ondo East and Ondo West Local Government, Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria to investigate whether the farmers perceive climate change, if farmers adapt at all in their agricultural activities and how farmers predict the weather per season. Multi- stage sampling techniques were used to select good numbers of farmers in the study area. Representative sample of 40 farmers from the three Local Government Area were selected. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used in the study. The study revealed that there were 100% of the respondents in Ile Oluji/Oke- Igbo LGA and Ondo West LGA respectively and 97.5% of the respondents in Ondo East LGA who were aware of climate change through various means (experience, formal education etc.). The study also revealed that there is always shift in temperature and precipitation in the study area. The survey showed that 40.82%, 50% and 19.51 of the respondents in Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo LGA, Ondo East LGA and Ondo West LGA respectively use information from expert opinion to predict weather. The survey concluded that improving and strengthening human capital through education, outreach programs, extension services at all levels will improve capacity to adapt to climate change impact. There is an urgent need for meteorological reports and alerts to be made accessible (when necessary) to farmers in an understandable forms.

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