Impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies in rural communities of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study focused on the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of some selected rural communities of Kaduna state, and the adaptation strategies employed by the people to ameliorate the scourge of climate change. Data for this study were obtained from a direct field study based on the result of 426 questionnaires that were administered to household heads. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. A five point Likert scale was used to determine the impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies employed by the rural communities. Focus Group Discussions were also held in each Local Government Area in order to obtain in-depth information on the changing climate. The study identified decline in crop yields with a mean score (x̄) of 4.01, increased sickness (x̄ = 3.85), decrease in soil fertility (x̄ = 3.83), decline in forest resources (x̄ = 3.66) as the most significant impacts of climate change in the area; whereas use of fertilizer/animals dung (x̄ = 3.89), water harvesting (x̄ = 3.68), planting of economic trees and drought resistant crops (x̄ = 3.25) among others were the most significant and sustainable adaptation strategies adopted by the rural people. The study recommended that awareness programs on climate change challenges should be intensified, and probabilistic analysis of observed rainfall data in order to provide information about the beginning, the end and length of the rainy season, and the amount of available water during the season. Lastly, sustainable adaptation strategies employed by the rural people should be strengthened.Keywords: Adaptation, climate change, impacts, livelihood, resources, rural communitie

Climate Change and Infectious Diseases in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria

This study examines the impact of climate change on the prevalence of cholera and malaria in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina state. Monthly and  annual trends of climatic data (temperature and rainfall) and infectious diseases (cholera and malaria) from 1985-2014 were analyzed and plotted in order to determine the degree of congruence between the climatic data and the prevalence of cholera and malaria in the study area. Linear trend line equation was used in determining the monthly and annual changes in both temperature and rainfall, and the prevalence of cholera and malaria. The result revealed that as the rainfall and temperature is increasing from 1985 to 2014, likewise the occurrences of cholera and malaria diseases kept on increasing. The highest occurrences of cholera and malaria cases were recorded in 2013 and 2014, while the months of July, August, September and October recorded the highest occurrence of both malaria and cholera with a single peak in August. Further findings revealed that the yearly occurrence of the diseases for the months of July, August, September and October has been increasing from 1985 to 2014. The study recommends that people should avoid drinking water directly from ponds and rivers without been treated, and government should sink bore holes in rural communities in order to reduce the risk of cholera. Treated mosquito nets should be provided in order to reduce the risk of malaria and the monthly sanitation program should be encouraged and intensified.Keywords: cholera, malaria, rainfall, temperature, trend