Assessment of Climate Change Adaptive and Coping Strategies of Women Farmers in Mmaku Mountainous Community Awgu Area Enugu State Nigeria
M. A. N. Anikwe
Department of Agronomy and Ecological Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, Enugu State, Nigeria.
E. E. Ikenganyia *
Department of Agronomy and Ecological Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, Enugu State, Nigeria.
N. H. Alakweonye
Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Business School, Enugu State University of Science of Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The impact of climate change on agricultural production is a serious source of worry to farmers in rural communities in Nigeria. This is because their economy mainly depend on agriculture which is seriously affected by global climate change. The objectives of this study were to identify gaps in knowledge about climate change and to collate traditional coping and adaptive practices of climate change in Mmaku Mountainous Community Awgu Area, Enugu State Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were developed and administered to 220 randomly selected farmers in Mmaku Mountainous Community, Awgu Area Enugu State. The result of the study revealed that most of the respondent knew about climate change through radio, 70 sampled respondents out of 220 stated that climate change include a change of weather parameters apart from temperature over a long period (over 20 to 30 years), indiscriminate felling of trees and bush burning where the major causes of climate change in the study area. The study recommended that training and sensitization programmes are needed in the study area to create more awareness on the causes, impact and prevention of climate change. Government should as a matter of urgency provide motorized boreholes in the study area to reduce the suffering encountered by women and children in search of drinking water.
Keywords: Climate change, traditional coping strategies, women farmers, heat wave, Mmaku Awgu.