Analysis of Climate Change Manifestations among Sesame Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyse climate change manifestations among sesame farmers in Benue State. A combination of purposive and random sampling techniques was used to select 372 sesame producers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The result showed that climate change manifested as follows: Changes in time of rains (98.66%), drought (96.51%), extreme temperatures (96.24%), floods (92.74%), excess rainfall (90.05 percent), nutrient leaching (91.13%), soil erosion (90.59%) and pest/disease infestation (94.62%).  The result also showed that sesame production in the study area were adversely affected by changed timing of rains (98.92%), drought (96.77%), extreme temperatures (95.16%), floods (93.28%), excess rainfall (91.13%), nutrient leaching (90.86%), soil erosion (90.32%) and pest/disease infestation (97.31%). The result further showed overall level of adverse effects of climate change manifestations among the respondents in descending order from low to high. The result indicates that the overall mean score (M) was 3.53. While about most (48.12%) of the sesame farmers in the study area indicated that climate change had a moderate level of adverse effects of on their sesame production. 37.37% of them indicated high level adverse effects of climate change on their sesame production and 14.52% indicated low level adverse effects of climate change on their sesame production. It was therefore recommended that agricultural extension service should play a crucial role of informing its clientele (farmers) on how best to adapt to climate change impacts. Researchers and extension agents must as a matter of urgency work closely with sesame farmers to create awareness on the adverse effects of climate change as it affects their farming activities. They must also strengthen the confidence of farmers by expressing faith in such adaptive measures for a sustainable agricultural development.