Effect of Climate Change on Income Generating Activities of Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract The study examined the effect of climate change on income generating activities of farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 240 crop and livestock farmers for the study. Majority (52.4%) of the respondents are literate and have multiple income generating activities (83.7%). Crop farming, collection of forest products, poultry production and goat rearing were the most negatively affected income generating activities. Sex, educational level and household size have significantly positive relationship with farmer’s involvement in income generating activities. A positively significant differences exist in farmers’ income generating activities before and after climate change. The study found out that indigenous practices adopted in controlling the effect of climate change do not have significant relationship with farmers’ involvement in income generating activities. The study therefore recommends that government, research institutes, extension officers, non-governmental organizations and community leaders should intensify efforts at educating farmers on the need for use of environmentally friendly farming systems in order to reduce the effect of climate change. Keywords: Climate change; Farmers, Kwara State, Indigenous practices