ISSN 2360-798X
Abstract
Accepted 6th November, 2014
This study analyzed the constraints to climate change mitigation and adoption among rice farmers in the three agricultural zones in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Multiple stage random sampling technique was employed to select the 120 rice farmers. Primary data collected with the aid of questionnaire and interview schedule. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis. Socio-economic characteristics result shows that majority (60%) of the respondents were females within age bracket of 21-50 years and majority (51.66%) married. 47.50 percent of the respondents completed primary education. Most house hold (50.83%) ranged between 6-10 persons. Majority (52.50%) involved in trading as secondary occupation. Greater proportion (65.67%) had farm size ranging 1-3 hectares with annual income between N31,000 – N40,000 (53.33%). Result indicated that rice farmers were aware of climate change such as higher temperature (15.00%), delayed rainfall (13.33%) resulting to decrease in rice yield (40.83%). The result further indicated their major constraints limiting rice farmers were socio-political, fund and infrastructure. It is recommended that rice farmers should be given enough education through effective extension services delivery to enhance their knowledge on climate change and its coping strategies, establishing meteorological stations in rural committees and government and other agencies intervention to reduce the effect on the farmers.
Keywords: Constraints, climatic change and rice farmers.