CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PRACTICES AMONG OIL PALM FARMERS IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the climate change adaptation practices among oil palm farmers in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of oil palm farmers in Ovia North East Local Government Area, examine the oil palm farmers’ awareness and experience of climate change and the indicators of climate change, examine perceived effect of climate change on oil palm production among oil palm farmers, identify climate change adaptation practices among oil palm farmers, examine oil palm farmers’ perceived effectiveness of the climate change adaptation practices, identify the constraints in the use of the climate change adaptation practices. A two-stage sampling procedure was used for a simple random selection of 80 oil palm farmers from 4 communities in the Local Government for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire designed in line with the specific objectives of the study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores as well as inferential statistics such as Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that most (90%) of the oil palm farmers were male, married (85%) with mean age of 47 years. Increase in the intensity of rainfall (100%) was the indicator of climate change that most respondents were aware of and have experienced. Result also showed that loss of farmland due to flood was the major effect of climate change by the xiv respondents. It was concluded that application of agro-chemicals (100%) was the most used adaptation practice by the respondents, use of organic manure was the most effective adaptation practice and limited access to capital was the major constraint that affected oil palm production in the study area. The study therefore recommended that weather stations should be provided for the accurate prediction and readings of rainfall and other indicators of climate change