Awareness and perceptions of climate change among extension workers of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study sought to ascertain awareness and differences in male andfemale extension workers perceptions of climate change. The study wascarried out in Anambra state, Nigeria. A total of forty respondents (20males and 20 females) purposively selected from four agricultural zonesin the state were used for the study. Data were analysed usingpercentage, mean score and t- test. All( 100%) of males and 95% of thefemales were married. Majority (71.3%) of the males were in the agerange of 45 to 54 years while majority(77.9%) of the females were in theage range of 40 – 49years. The mean ages were 45 years and 44 yearsfor the male and female extension workers respectively. Majority of themale (60%) and female workers (68.5%) had HND/ degree certificate andhad about 4 to 6 persons in the household. Females noticed and heardabout climate change earlier than their male colleagues. Male extensionworkers sourced information on climate change mainly from radio (100%),newspaper (95%) and television (80%) while the female extensionworkers sourced mainly from radio (90%), fellow extension workers (85%)and friends/relations (70%). There were significant differences in theirperception of swamp rice production (t= 2..4, p≤ 0.05), overgrazing offarmlands by livestock (t =- 2.7, p≤ 0.05) and high use of irrigation (t = -2.2, p≤ 0.05) as causes of climate change. There were also significantdifferences in their perception of high humidity (t = 2.7, p≤ 0.05) asindicator of climate change and high incidence of weeds (t= -2.7, p≤ 0.05)as effect of climate change .Females perceived these factors more ascauses, indicator and effects of climate change than males. The studyemphasized on the need to educate/train both male and female extensionworkers generally on issues concerning climate change and specificallyon the causes, indicators and effects of climate change that they areignorant of. This is for onward transmission to their clientele, enhancedagricultural productivity and encouraging future.