Access and Utilization of Climate Change Information and Support Services among Vulnerable Communities in Agatu LGA, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated access and utilization of climate change information and support services among vulnerable communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study sought to answer how farmers perceive climate change and its local impacts on their livelihood activities; what are the climate information and support services that farmers would like to access, which pathways are most useful for climate information dissemination and support services, in what ways are these information and support services utilized and what are the barriers to effective communication of climate information to rural farmers. Structured and validated interview schedule as well as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were used to collect relevant information from 250 rural farmers randomly selected from ten villages located along the bank of river Benue. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean and Likert Rating Scale (LRS). The findings revealed that almost all the farmers (92%) in these communities were aware of climate change and perceived change in rainfall, drought, floods, crop and livestock diseases to have been  “very severe” over the last five years. Early warning signals (2.78), rainfall prediction (2.86), drought forecast (2.93) and adaptation technology (2.74) were the significant climate information and support services perceived to boost adaptation practices of farmers in the study area. Responses to LRS questions on preferred channel for climate change information indicated that the farmers preferred community channel (0.91) and mass media (0.85) to print (0.63) and electronic media (0.50). Results further showed that respondents utilize climate services principally in deciding time of planting crops and fish harvesting from ponds. The study concluded that combination of extension agents, radio and local administration would be more effective for disseminating climate information and support services to vulnerable communities. Hence, capacity building for extension service and integration of local medium in communication is necessary for interpretation of weather data to enhance effective dissemination of climate information and support services to vulnerable farmers in the study area.