CAPACITY BUILDING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: MODULES FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Basically, climate change refers to any change in climate overtime, generally caused by natural variability and/or human activities. It has great devastating impact, particularly on agriculture and by extrapolation on farmers and the national economy. The frontline agricultural extension workers are expected to be among the principal stakeholders to teach farmers how to cope with climate change. Consequently, there is a need to develop appropriate teaching package for the training of the frontline agricultural extension workers, based on the myriad of adaptation strategies and practices available in the literature. This paper synthesizes the rationale for capacity building in climate change and the adaptation or coping strategies. The modules (train-the-trainer) for teaching agricultural extension workers and farmers are documented in the paper

Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change in Central Agricultural Zone of Borno State, Nigeria

The study analysed farmer’s perception of climate change in Central Agricultural Zone of Borno State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 160 respondents in the study area. Descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple regression analysis) were used. The result showed that all the variables except sex and marital status were significant at either 1% or 5% level of significance and positively signed. The study concluded that respondents in the study area perceived climate changes which were greatly influenced by their socio economic characteristics. Lack of current knowledge and information on climate, lack of credit facilities and poor extension services on climate change adaptation were identified to be the major constraints of adaptation to climate change in the study area. The study recommended that efforts should be made in improving the knowledge and skills of extension service personnel about climate change and adaptation management strategies and making the extension services more accessible to farmers. Key words: Farmers’ Perception, Climate Change, Agricultural Zone, Borno State

The Role of Extension in Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in the Sahelian Zone of Nigeria

It is anticipated that climate variability and change in the Sahelian zone of Nigeria  will have an overwhelming impacts on agriculture, land use, ecosystem  and biodiversity. Recent years have seen adaptation come to the international climate debate. The focus is centered largely upon enhancing the capacity of developing countries such as Nigeria to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The paper discussed the role of extension in agricultural adaptation to climate change in the Sahelian zone of Nigeria. It identified the evidence of climate change in the Sahelian zone of Nigeria and described the adaptation strategies to the changing climate.  The paper also explored the role of agricultural extension services in climate change adaptation. The challenges facing agricultural adaptation to climate change were also discussed. The paper recommended that efforts of the government should include; development of special rural micro-credit schemes, improved extension delivery and human capital development Keywords: Agricultural adaptation, Climate change, Extension, Role, Sahelian Zone, Nigeri

Analysis of adoption of improved rice production technologies in Jeer local government area of Borno state, Nigeria

The study analysed adoption of improved rice production technologies in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that 98.12% of the respondents were male, 57.5% were within 41-50 years and most (33.12%) of the respondents had adult education. The study revealed that majority (56.25%) of the respondents was aware of the rice production technologies in the study area. Majority of the respondents tried rice production technologies with respect to high yielding varieties (77.50%), early maturing varieties (69.37%), use of weedicides (93.75%), broadcasting method (55.00%), manual harvesting (75.00%) and bagging (63.75%). The study revealed that unavailability of fertilizer was the major (96.25%) constraint affecting the adoption of rice production technologies by respondents. The study recommends that extension services should be strengthened with necessary inputs for improved adoption of rice production technologies by respondents

DETERMINANTS OF ADAPTATION TO DEFORESTATION AMONG FARMERS IN MADAGALI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the determinants of adaptation to deforestation among farmers in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Structured interview schedule were used to obtain information from 200 respondents selected through simple random sampling techniques. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential (chi-square test) statistics. The result indicated that majority (84%) of the respondents were male with 21-40 years of age representing 58.50%. The study also showed that most (45%) of the respondents had attained post primary education with majority (80%) having 6 and above years of farming experience. The respondents perceived fuel wood extraction as the major (42%) cause of deforestation in the study area. The result showed that the most (30.50%) frequently employed adaptation strategy against deforestation was reducing quantity of fire wood consumption. The study further showed that the factors which significantly influenced adaptation to deforestation among the respondents were age, farming experience and educational status with X2=9.216, 8.697 and 11.238 at P<0.05 respectively. While those factors which did not influence adaptation to deforestation among the respondents were gender, access to agricultural credit and access to extension services with X2=1.286, 7.923 and 5.862 at P<0.05 respectively. The major constraints faced by respondents in adaptation to deforestation were lack of capital and lack of accessible alternative energy. The study recommends that awareness campaign should be mounted to increase the level of knowledge of respondents on the significance of adaptation to deforestation. Respondents should also be encouraged towards establishment of adaptation cooperative societies in order to take advantage of some government policies and programmes

Relationship between patients’ beliefs about their antihypertensives and adherence in a secondary hospital in northern Nigeria

Poor adherence to medication is a major public health concern, especially in patients with hypertension because it is sometimes difficult to convince them to take medication in the absence of symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between patients’ beliefs about their antihypertensive drugs and adherence to treatment. The study was a cross-sectional study on hypertensive patients in General Hospital Katsina State. The data were collected using patient administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.The study recorded a total of 127 hypertensive patients, majority of whom were females (58%) and mostly above 40 years (76%). Significant number of the respondents (98%) agreed their antihypertensives were effective in protecting them from the effects of high blood pressure. All adherent patients (100%) were strongly concerned about possible future effects of their medication, suggesting a high counter-balancing effect of this belief on their adherence. Majority (77%) believed they were receiving the necessary advice about their medicines from the pharmacist. Overall adherence to treatment was excellent (80%). A statistically significant relationship (p&lt;.05) was established between patient’s beliefs and adherence. In conclusion, the study revealed that adherence to antihypertensive medication is attributed to patients’ beliefs and the role of pharmacists cannot be overemphasized.Keywords: Antihypertensive, Adherence, Beliefs, Pharmacis

Assessment of the Perception of Benefits of Organic Gardening in Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria

The study examined the perception of benefits of organic gardening in Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain information from 166 respondents through multi-stage random and purposive sampling techniques. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, percentage and mean scores). The study indicates that the respondents had perceived a relatively neutral (mean score = 2.87) socio-economic benefits of organic gardening. Nevertheless, they agreed (mean score = 3.84) with the ecological benefits or organic farming. The result, equally reports that the intension of conversion to organic farming was relatively neutral (mean score = 3.49). The most important constraint to organic gardening conversion was lack of knowledge and skills regarding organic gardening. Policy recommendations were made to include: the creation of awareness on the consequences of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides among others, and adequate government support for organic gardening in the study area

Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Adoption of Soya Bean Production Technologies in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria

The study examined socio-economic factors affecting the adoption of soya bean production technologies in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. Interview schedules were administered to 180 respondents which were analyzed by the use of descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential (multiple regression analysis) statistics. The study revealed that majority of the respondents adopted the recommended technologies with respect to improved seeds, planting time and harvesting time representing 52.20%, 50.70% and 68.90% respectively. While on the other hand, majority of the respondents did not adopt the recommended technologies with regards to fertilizer application, spacing, weeding frequency and the use of chemicals with 52.20%, 53.30%, 61.10% and 67.80% respectively. The regression analysis revealed that educational level, farming experience and sources of information had significantly and positively influenced the adoption of improved soya bean production technologies by respondents. The major constraints to adoption of soya bean production technologies by respondents were poor extension services (75.60%) and lack of credit facilities (72.20%. The study recommends that agricultural extension services should adequately be provided with input support services in the form of credit facilities among others

Farmers’ perception on the effects of gum Arabic agroforestry on livelihoods in the Sahelian zone of Borno State, Nigeria

The study analysed farmers’ perception of effects of gum Arabic agroforestry on livelihoods in the Sahelian zone of Borno state, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained mainly through primary sources. Multi stage, purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select 321 respondents that was used for this study. The study revealed that the most important (30.25%) farm information by respondents was radio. This was closely followed by friends and relatives representing 29.91% of the respondents in the study area. However extension agents were the least important (9.34%) source of farm information among respondents in the study area. The study indicated that the most important (29%) reason for planting gum Arabic tree was for economic reason. The result showed that the respondents’ perception on improved environmental situation and improved socio-economic status had a mean score of 2.68 and 2.63 respectively implying that the respondents had an agreed perception on the effects of gum Arabic agroforestry on livelihoods. The results in also indicated that all the constraints identified by respondents had a mean score of > 2.56, implying that they had agreed to have encountered problems in the adoption of gum Arabic agroforestry in the study area. The study recommends that awareness creation should be mounted through extension education approach to enlighten the public on the skills, knowledge, techniques and benefits of the adoption of gum Arabic agroforestry in the study area. Farmers in the study area should also be encouraged to form gum Arabic agroforestry cooperatives as this will enable them to take advantage of government and non-governmental programmes, such as provision of credit facilities and technologies etc