Traditional Perceptions of Climate Change Phenomenon Influencing Adaptation Decisions among Women Crop Farmers in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed traditional perceptions of climate change phenomenon influencing adaptation decision and responses among rural women crop farmers in southern Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 420 rural women crop farmers for the study. Questionnaire administration through the use of ODK collect, Focused group discussion (FGD) and In depth interview (IDI) was used to collect data. Analyses of data was done usescriptive statistics and Binary Logit regression. Relatively good proportion (89%) had deliberately taken decision to adapt to climate change with 81% supporting their decision with action by utilizing available climate change adaptation strategies. Approximately 86% indicated that the nature of climate change knowledge possessed affect their response to climate change. The belief that climate change is too complex to understand (X?= 2.83), caused solely by man’s carelessness over his environment (X? = 2.97) and rainfall and temperature variation (X? = 3.07) were the major traditional perceptions of climate change influencing adaptation decisions among rural women. Rural women traditional perception of climate change was found to influence their decision to adapt to climate change. Knowledge building through training workshops on climate change is key to stimulating right adaptation decision and action among rural women crop farmers.

Keywords

• adaptation decision
• , traditional perception
• rural women
• crop farmers