Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Climate change is conceivably the most serious environmental menace to agricultural production globally. Hence, this study assessed the indigenous strategies employed by small scale farmers to cope with these adverse effects of climate change in Jos East Plateau State. It was carried out in three districts of the local government area. A sample of 150 farmers were randomly selected for this study. Structured questionnaire and interview were employed for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Coping Strategy Index (CSI). The study found out that farmers are aware of climate change in the study area. Important sources of information on climate change were found to be: other farmers (90.7%), radio (85.3%), television (84.0%) open market (84.7%), government extension agent (56.0%), print media (40%) and internet (36.7%). Key indicators of climate change in the study area include flooding (93.3%), erratic rain pattern, (86.0%), increase in disease incidence (80.7%), warmer temperatures (76.3%), increase in pest incidence (79.3%) and longer dry season (4.0%). Findings also revealed that mixed cropping, change in sowing date, seed selection, afforestation and change in date of harvest were the most important indigenous strategies used by the respondents to cope with climate change. Also, the analysis indicated that the parameters regressed are responsible for 54.1% of variation in the Coping Strategy Index. Capacity building and advisory services that enhance documentation and complementing the use of indigenous and modern strategies against climate change particularly in areas of information accessibility and weather prediction are recommended.