ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG FULANI HERDERS IN KAINJI LAKE BASIN, NIGERIA

Document Type : High quality original papers

Authors

1 FEDERAL COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, ISHIAGU EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

2 National Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Research, Nigeria

3 National Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute, Nigeria

4 National Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the climate change adaptation strategies of Fulani cattle herders in Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria. A combination of purposive and simple random sampling techniques were adopted to select 80 Fulani cattle herders in the study area. Data were collected using an interview guide. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data while Adaptation Strategy Use Index (ASUI) was used to rank the most frequently used adaptation strategies to climate change. The mean age and the mean family size of the cattle rearers were 45.5 years and 8.3 years respectively. Majority (60.0%) of them never attended school and the mean monthly income was N13312.50. The mean herd size was 68 cattle while the mean cattle rearing experience was 27 years. Almost (98.8%) all the cattle herders had observed changes in climate with pest and disease incidence (42.5%) and insufficient rainfall (20.3%) being the most perceived indicators. ASUI revealed that trekking long distances (0.804), grazing in farm locations (0.800) and rain-water collection (0.796) were the most frequently used adaptation strategies. The study recommends the establishment of cattle ranches and institutional support for necessary infrastructure such as permanent source of water and veterinary facilities for herders.

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