Crop farmers' perceptions on climate change's impact on farm produce in Gwagwalada area Council, Abuja

Abstract

In Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, the study looked at crop producers' assessments of the consequences of climate change on farm produce. To sample 100 people, a basic random sampling procedure was used. The information gathered was evaluated with descriptive statistics. The purpose of the study was to discover several climatic elements that can effect farming systems, such as dawn (high temperature), rainfall, coldness, wind, and so on. High temperatures can affect crop yields, and severe rainfall can induce flooding and wash away nutrients in soil, rendering it inappropriate for planting, according to the study. Farmers are aware of a range of elements that can contribute to climate change, such as changes in rainfall, strong wind, high temperatures, and a lack of rainfall, according to the study's findings. The responders were on average 20 years old, with males accounting for 83 percent and females for 17 percent. It was also suggested that while organizing training programs, extension organizations consider the farmers' low level of education to ensure that they get the most out of the programs. Personal observation, family and friends, and personal observation, respectively, accounted for 40% and 23% of the climate change information available to rural farmers in the study area, with personal observation accounting for 63 percent of the climate change information available to farmers. According to the report, the communication gap between researchers and extension agents should be bridged. Extension professionals will be able to use this information to assist farmers in adjusting to the negative consequences of climate change.

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P-ISSN: 2618-0723 Impact Factor: RJIF 5.16
E-ISSN: 2618-0731 www.extensionjournal.com
International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development
Volume 5; Issue 1; Jan-Jun 2022; Page No. 15-20
Received: 10-11-2021 Indexed Journal
Accepted: 12-12-2021 Peer Reviewed Journal
Crop farmers' perceptions on climate change's impact on farm produce in
Gwagwalada area Council, Abuja
Egbe George Desmond1, Sennuga Samson Olayemi1*, Lai-Solarin Winifred Ifeoma2 and Adeoye Wasiu Adelabu2
1Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, FCT, PMB, Abuja,
Nigeria
2Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract
In Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, the study looked at crop producers' assessments of the consequences of climate change
on farm produce. To sample 100 people, a basic random sampling procedure was used. The information gathered was
evaluated with descriptive statistics. The purpose of the study was to discover several climatic elements that can effect farming
systems, such as dawn (high temperature), rainfall, coldness, wind, and so on. High temperatures can affect crop yields, and
severe rainfall can induce flooding and wash away nutrients in soil, rendering it inappropriate for planting, according to the
study. Farmers are aware of a range of elements that can contribute to climate change, such as changes in rainfall, strong wind,
high temperatures, and a lack of rainfall, according to the study's findings. The responders were on average 20 years old, with
males accounting for 83 percent and females for 17 percent. It was also suggested that while organizing training programs,
extension organizations consider the farmers' low level of education to ensure that they get the most out of the programs.
Personal observation, family and friends, and personal observation, respectively, accounted for 40% and 23% of the climate
change information available to rural farmers in the study area, with personal observation accounting for 63 percent of the
climate change information available to farmers. According to the report, the communication gap between researchers and
extension agents should be bridged. Extension professionals will be able to use this information to assist farmers in adjusting
to the negative consequences of climate change.
Keywords: climate change, perceptions, farmers, agriculture, extension, rural
Introduction
In many nations, agriculture, particularly the production of
food crops, is climate-dependent, as any change in optimal
plant requirements can affect crop yield and productivity.
It's a worldwide issue and one of the most basic issues the
cosmos has ever confronted. It jeopardizes the livelihoods
and well-being of millions of the world's poorest people
(Agriculture Nigeria, 2014) [3]. Climate change's effects on
water balance and agriculture, which are the primary
sources of livelihood and survival for the vast majority of
rural communities in the region, are having a significant
impact on developing countries. Climate change, on the
other hand, has had a significant impact on agricultural
production in recent years. It's worth mentioning, though,
that Africa accounts for less than 4% of global warming-
related greenhouse gas emissions (Agriculture Nigeria,
2014) [3]. Experts say climate change has a wide range of
impacts on agriculture (Agriculture Nigeria, 2014) [3].
Extreme weather occurrences, such as thunderstorms, strong
winds, and flooding, can cause crop failure. In reaction to
climate change and variation, pests and diseases migrate,
producing uncertainty at the start of crop seasons.
Overgrazing by rural populations has been blamed for
desertification in the Sahel.
Natural rather than man-made elements, however, have had
a greater impact in recent years. Farmers have been forced
to adapt to changing conditions as a result of climate
change, despite this. Climate change and fluctuation have
already been predicted by academics from a wide range of
disciplines on agricultural production. According to Ajadi et
al. (2011) [4], variation in various climatic indicators
indicates variation in crop output. Others pointed out that
farmers are aware of climate change and its implications for
their livelihoods, and that their perceptions influence the
coping techniques they employ. For example, Ayanwuyi
(2014) discovered that while arable farmers were
increasingly aware of climate change and its consequences
on their livelihood, due to poverty and illiteracy, their
strategies for dealing with and limiting the scourge
remained rudimentary.
As can be seen from the preceding, a large amount of
research has been conducted in Nigeria to evaluate the
impact of climate change and fluctuation on food crop
productivity. Given the importance of food to human
survival, this is predictable. However, the majority of these
studies concentrated on rural agricultural output or arable
farming. This is definitely true, given that rural areas meet
the majority of the metropolitan population's agricultural
needs. It's critical to distinguish between climate change and
climate variability at this point. Many people use the terms

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"climate change" and "climate variability" interchangeably.
The two terms should not be used interchangeably. The
former refers to long-term (decades) changes in climatic
conditions, such as 25–30 years, whereas the latter refers to
yearly or seasonal changes. Climate variability, according to
Dinse (2011) [5], is the way the climate fluctuates yearly
above or below a long-term average value, whereas climate
change is a long-term continuous shift (increase or decrease)
in average weather conditions (e.g. average temperature).
The obvious difference is that climate change is slow and
gradual, and it is extremely difficult to discern without
scientific data, unlike year-to-year variability (Dinse, 2011)
[5]. Farmers' perceptions and awareness of climate change
may influence how they respond to weather changes.
According to study, people make decisions in their
environment based on how they perceive it rather than how
it truly is. Furthermore, farmers' perceptions tend to
influence their coping strategies, which in turn determine
the extent to which climate impacts agriculture (Ajadi et al.,
2011) [4]. Climate change has climbed to the forefront of the
twenty-first century's most critical challenges. Climate
change will have an influence on human health, livelihood
assets, food production and distribution networks, as well as
changing purchasing power and market flows.
Agriculture is one of Africa's most vulnerable sectors to
climate change's consequences (Falaki et al. 2012) [8].
Climate change has a greater impact in countries like
Nigeria, where rain-fed agriculture is essential for daily
existence. Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures
are already affecting millions of Nigerians. Rainfall,
cloudiness, and rainfall intensity are all expected to rise in
the humid regions of southern Nigeria, especially during
severe storms. Similarly, less rainfall is expected in northern
Nigeria's savannah areas, which, combined with rising
temperatures, may reduce soil moisture availability (Ogbo et
al., 2013) [11]. The country's massive coastal population is
exposed to rising sea levels and storm surges due to the
country's 853-kilometer-long coastline. Drought and
desertification threaten nearly two-thirds of Nigeria's land
area. As a result, the availability of water is mostly
governed by the weather, which has an impact on Nigerians'
health and, eventually, poverty levels. Food, livelihoods,
and survival are largely dependent on the physical
environment for the country's almost 200 million people.
Unfortunately, Nigeria lacks the financial and technological
resources required to address the predicted negative effects
of current and future climate change, and it has yet to fully
establish an institutional and legal framework, systematic
approach, or policies aimed at mitigating and adapting to the
effects of climate change. Given the preceding, it is clear
that ignoring climate change will significantly obstruct
Nigeria's long-term poverty reduction and economic growth
goals. Despite technological advancements such as
improved varieties, genetically modified organisms, and
irrigation systems, weather and climate continue to play a
significant effect in agricultural output and soil quality.
According to the Climatic Institute, solar radiation,
temperature, and precipitation are the major drivers of
agricultural growth; as a result, agriculture has always been
heavily reliant on climate patterns and fluctuations.
Intensive agricultural methods are reported to have negative
environmental effects and have been changing the global
climate by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases into
the atmosphere, resulting in higher global temperatures and
affecting hydrological routes; intensive agricultural methods
are reported to have negative environmental effects and
have been changing the global climate by emitting large
amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, resulting
in higher global temperatures and affecting hydrological
routes; intensive agricultural methods are reported to have
negative environmental effects and have been changing the
global climate by emitting large amounts of greenhouse
gases into the global According to Enete et al. (2011) [7],
climate change has a direct impact on agricultural
production because agricultural systems are climate-
dependent, and the impact is especially significant in
developing countries where agriculture provides
employment and income for the majority of the population.
Objectives of the study
▪ describe the respondents' demographic information;
▪ identify the various climate changes that farmers are
experiencing and how they are affecting their crop
yields;
▪ find out where farmers can get information about
climate change;
▪ identify the many sorts of climate change information
that crop growers require.
Method and Materials
Study Area
Gwagwalada Area Council is one of the six Area Councils
of the Federal Capital Territory administration (FCT). The
study area is one of the Area Councils in Nigeria's Federal
Capital Territory (Abuja). The location is between latitudes
805515211N and 90113411N, and longitudes 605113611E
and 701113511E. (Ishaya and Baji, 2013). It is ideally
located in the middle of the FCT, surrounded by highly
productive agricultural territory. It is bordered on the south
by Kwali Area Council, on the east by Kuje Area Council,
on the north by Suleja, and on the east by the border town of
Izom.
Among the settlements in the study area are Gwagwalada
town, Kutunku, Dobi, TungaGayan, Gwako, Dukwa, Dagiri,
Paso, Ibwo, Wumi, Zuba, TungaMaje, Giyabiri, Kwaita,
Gurfata, Ashara, Ledi, Giri, Kaida, Kuturu, and a few
others. For this investigation, the communities of Kaida
Tsoho and Paiko in Dobi were chosen. The Area Council's
climate, like that of most tropics climates, is characterized
by a number of climatic factors, most notably the wet and
dry seasons. The average annual temperature in the area
ranges from 30°C to 37°C, with the highest temperature in
March and about 1,650mm of rainfall per year. During the
months of July to September, 60 percent of the annual
rainfall falls. The area is drained by the major rivers within
the research region, including the FCT, the River Usuma,
and the River Gurara. With a population of 23,114 people,
Gwagwalada, the study area's major community, is one of
the largest satellite towns and the FCT's third largest urban
center (Ishaya and Baji, 2013) [9].
Agriculture is one of the most important economic activities
in Gwagwalada Area Council due to the favorable climate
and soil conditions. The majority of Gwagwalada Area
Council's indigenous people work in agriculture, which

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includes peasant farming, logging, pond fishing, and animal
farming (Ishaya and Baji, 2013) [9].
Method of Data Collection
The data was gathered in two ways: primary and secondary
sources. Questionnaires were used as primary sources, with
secondary sources including textbooks, the internet,
journals, published and unpublished articles, and
government publications.
Sampling Techniques
Two villages in the Paiko ward of the Gwagwalada Area
Council that are known for their farming activities were
chosen using simple random sampling. Angwan Bassa
Deshi and Kaida Tsoho are the villages in question.
Method of Data Analysis
The descriptive statistical tool used to analyze the study data
included frequency counts, mean, and percentage, which
were used to analyze the respondents' socio-economic
characteristics.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
Table 1 shows that the average age of the respondents was
20.0 years, with the majority (32%) falling between the ages
of 31 and 40, and the least (2%) falling between the ages of
61 and above. This suggests that the majority of respondents
were still in their working years and may require training to
expand their knowledge, as farmers of this age are eager to
learn new ways to improve their farm work. Men made up
about 83 percent of those polled, and 98 percent of those
polled were married. The majority of respondents had
received formal education, with 45 percent having received
the highest level of education (SSCE) and 14 percent
graduating, while 21% had received no formal education.
Because all (100%) of respondents had farming as their
primary occupation, this implies that the majority of
respondents had formal education and will require the
assistance of an extension agent to fully understand climate
change as it affects agriculture. Furthermore, 44% had been
farming for 11 to 20 years. Farming lasted an average of
16.6 years. This means that a large number of farmers were
aware of climate change and its negative impact on crop
production firsthand.
Table 1: Distribution of respondents by socio-economic characteristics
Variable
Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Genders of respondents
Males
83
83
Females
17
17
Marital status
Married
98
98
Single
2
2
Literacy level
Literate
23
23
Illiterate
77
77
Educational qualification
No formal education
21
21
Primary education
11
11
Secondary education
45
45
25.0
Tertiary education
23
3
Occupation
Crop farmers
100
100
Age distribution of respondents
20-30
24
24
31-40
32
32
41-50
31
31
51-60
11
11
20.0
61 and above
2
2
Years of farming distribution
0-10
7
7
11-20
44
44
21-30
29
29
31-40
15
15
16.7
41-50
4
4
51 and above
1
1
Source: Field Survey, 2021
Figure 1 depicted the negative effects of climate change in
the research area, which are affecting crop productivity.
Climate change has had an impact on crop output, according
to 96 percent of respondents, while the remaining 4% were
unclear. However, among the 96 percent, 15 percent said
climate change has caused heavy rainfall and flooding,
lower grain quality due to rainfall shortage and rise in pests
and diseases caused by temperature, 23 percent said climate
change has caused lower grain quality due to rainfall
shortage and rise in pests and diseases caused by
temperature, 16 percent said climate change has caused
lower grain quality due to rainfall shortage, and 25 percent
said climate change has caused lower grain quality due to
rainfall shortage and rise in pests and diseases caused by

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temperature. According to the data, about 25% of the
respondents had similar climate change effects, such as
flooding, a lack of rainfall, and an increase in pests and
diseases, all of which were prevalent climate change effects
in the study area.
These findings are in line with those of Parry et al. (2007),
who claimed that diseases are expected to move from the
tropics to the temperate and northern areas as a result of
climate change. They also claimed that a number of nations
in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) were already suffering from
severe water scarcity due to low and irregular rainfall, as
well as flooding.
Source: Field Survey, 2021
Fig 1: Effect of climate change
Source: Field Survey, 2021
Fig 2: Alleged problems resulting from climate variations
Keys: (a) Heavy rainfall and flooding. (b) Lower grain
quality due to shortage of rainfall. (c) Erosion caused by excessive rainfall. (d) Rise in pests and diseases caused by
temperature.

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Source: Field Survey, 2021
Fig 3: Sources of Information
Fig 3 depicted the major sources of information through
which rural farmers in the study area received information
on climate change: personal observation (40%), family and
friends (23%), radio (20%), and television (3%), with only
14% indicating extension as a source of knowledge on
climate change. According to respondents' perceived
reliability of information sources, personal observation and
family and friends accounted for 40% and 23% of the
information on climate change available to farmers,
respectively, accounting for 63% of the information on
climate change available to farmers. And the implication
was that these were not scientifically based agricultural
knowledge. Television was the least used source of
information, accounting for 3%, implying that fewer people
owned televisions due to a lack of electricity in the
communities.
Source: Field Survey, 2021
Fig 4: Critical Awareness
According to Fig 4, approximately 82% of respondents
believe that climate change can be controlled through
critical awareness, while 18% believe that climate change is
a natural phenomenon that cannot be controlled.
Source: Field Survey, 2021
Fig 5: Possible Adoption Option
According to Fig 5, approximately 63% of respondents
indicated that farmers can adopt possible climate change
adaptation options, 23% were undecided, and 14% indicated
no possible climate change adaptation options. This implies
that the majority of farmers are eager to learn about and
implement possible adaptation options for controlling and
managing climate change. Farmers' perceptions and
understanding of climate change may influence how they
react to weather variations. It has been established that
people make decisions in their surroundings based on how
they perceive them rather than how the surroundings are.
Furthermore, farmers' perceptions tend to influence their
coping strategies, which ultimately determine the degree to
which climate impacts agriculture (Ajadi et al. 2011) [4].
Conclusion
The researcher came to the following conclusions based on
the study's findings:
▪ All respondents stated that the climate has changed. As
a result, the likelihood of farmers taking adaptive
measures in response to observed climate changes is
high.
▪ The majority of respondents had only a passing

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understanding of agricultural climate change issues.
This has serious consequences for farmers' ability to
adapt to the effects of climate change.
▪ Many sources of climate change information, such as
extension agents, radio, and television, had limited
availability and usage. As a result, farmers may be
lacking in scientific knowledge on agriculture-related
climate change issues.
▪ Long years of farming experience played important
roles in farmers' climate change decision-making
processes, as the majority of respondents considered
personal observation to be the most reliable source of
climate change information.
▪ Farmers were less interested in the causes and effects of
climate change, which could be due to respondents'
belief that they were powerless to intervene.
▪ vi. In the study area, poor extension services and
infrastructure were major barriers to effective climate
change communication.
▪ As a result, farmers perceived that improved extension
services and infrastructure could be used to improve
information dissemination on climate change among
rural farmers.
Recommendations
▪ In Gwagwalada, extension agents should be mobilized
for a huge enlightenment campaign on agriculture-
related climate change issues, particularly on market
days and through social and religious groups. The
University of Abuja's Faculty of Agriculture's
outstanding efforts to disseminate climate change
information to rural people should be commended by
the university administration and the state government,
so that the gestures might be expanded to other area
councils outside of Gwagwalada.
▪ Farmers must be taught climate change adaptation and
mitigation strategies in a participatory manner
(interactive telephone program) by specialists in climate
change communication through the mass media. To
cope with the unpredictability of climate change,
farmers should be trained how to use superior varieties
and modify the timing of farm operations.
▪ The communication gap between researchers and
extension agents must be bridged. Extension agents will
be better positioned to assist farmers in adapting to the
negative consequences of climate change as a result of
this.
▪ The needs of the target audience for whom the climate
change information is intended should be considered,
and this information should be disseminated by experts
who are fluent in vernacular language. To achieve the
desired multiplier effects, local and religious leaders
should be utilized.
▪ Extension organizations should consider the farmers'
low level of education when designing training
programs in order to fully benefit them from the
programs.
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