CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AMONG PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM) BASED FARMERS IN OVIA SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess the climate change adaptation strategies by pepper farmers in Ovia South-West Local Government Area. This was achieved through the following objectives; describe the socioeconomic characteristics of pepper farmers in Ovia South-West Local Government Area; identify the various climate change variables frequently faced by the respondents in the study area; identify climate adaptation strategies used by the respondents in the study area; identify the level of utilization of these adaptation strategies by the respondents in the study area; identify the sources of information used by the respondents on climate adaptation strategies and to identify the constraints faced by the respondents in adopting and utilizing the necessary strategies in the study area;

A two stage sampling procedure was used to sample 120 respondents for the study. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics tools.

Results showed that 58 % of pepper farmers in the study area were males and 40% had obtained secondary education as their highest level of education. majority (86.3%) of pepper farmers in the study area have no access to weather information. About 47.5% have experienced drought sometimes while 34.2%  reported that they always experience drought. Respondents used Various adaptation strategies to mitigate climate change. Respondents adopted diversification of income generating activities (mean = 4.14) and mixed cropping (mean = 4.60) in managing climate change. respondents always utilize planting season variation (mean = 4.08), use of virgin lands for farming (mean = 4.32), use of different varieties (mean = 4.51), and minimum tillage (mean =3.93). The most preferred individual method of information source used by respondent were farm visit (mean = 4.16) and home visit (mean = 3.09). High cost of farm inputs (mean = 5.00), Inadequate government support (mean = 4.78), Inadequate awareness of climate change adaptation strategies (mean = 4.67), Poor attitude of the extension agents (mean = 4.43) and Inadequate access to hybrid seeds (mean = .4.03) were the major constraints encountered by respondents in adopting climate adaptation strategies. It was concluded that Pepper farmers in the study area had low level of awareness on climate change information. It was recommended that more awareness on climate change adaptation strategies among pepper farmers.