EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE PERCEPTION OF OKRA PRODUCTION TO IMPROVED INCOME GENERATION AMONG FARMERS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research titled “Effect of Climate Change on the Perception of OkraProduction to Improved Income Generation among farmers in Niger State” Nigeria.Multi-stage sampling techniques were used for the study, a total of 100 okra farmers were sampled.Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. The result revealed that okra farmers with age range between 51 years and above perceived the effect of climate change (50%). Farming activities in the study area were dominated by the male farmers (80%). Respondents with secondary education were the majority (50%), The result showed that okra farmers of 51 years and above were the highest (50%). The greater proportion of the farmers belong to farmer’s cooperative (70%). Majority (75%) received extension massage through the individual methods. Similarly, majority(85%) does not have access to credit. Most of the farmers (60%) generate higher income between N101, 000 – 200,000. Human factor such as deforestation (60%), over grazing (30%) contributed to the causes of climate change. Producers noticed droughts and high temperature (75%). Measure adapted by farmers to mitigate against climate change effects were inadequate information on the perceived effect of climate change (90%), high cost of farming equipment (70), were constraints. The correlation analysis revealed the relationship between the perceive effect of climate change on okra production and selected socio – economic variables, education was found to be significant at 1% level of probability with r = 0.0192, Regression coefficients of factor affecting climate change, revealed that education (4.838%), income (- 4.262), mitigation strategies (4.899%) and cooperative membership (5.041%) were significant at 1% level of probability. Okra farmer should be taught by extension agents the mitigation measures against flooding, intense wind, storms, and hurricane such as planting of trees, cover crops and construction of dams and canals.