Page 138 - EER-2-3

Explora: Environment
and Resource Climate change adaptation through indigenous practices in Ebonyi State

relatively low, farmers in Nigeria have long implemented may not always align with empirical meteorological data.
indigenous climate adaptation practices, even before the Nonetheless, local knowledge and metrological data can
concept became a widely discussed topic in agricultural complement each other in developing effective climate
development. Although farmers may not fully understand change resilience strategies.
all the effects of climate change on their farms, they
leverage their awareness to apply indigenous practices, 3.3. Extent of indigenous practice application
thereby contributing to agricultural development. Table 2 presents the extent to which farmers utilize indigenous
practices as climate change adaptation strategies. The results
−
3.2. Perception of farmers toward climate change show that respondents changed their planting dates (x = 3.5),
−
Respondents held varying views on climate change, as practiced crop rotation (x = 3.2), engaged in mixed farming
−
−
shown in Table 1. Many perceived climate change as an (x = 3.4), and diversified their crops (x = 3.1). These findings
increase in the intensity of sunshine (92%), temperature indicate that sweet potato farmers are employing indigenous
(86%), the occurrence of pests and disease (78%), rainfall practices to a great extent to ameliorate the harsh effects of
3
intensity (74%), and the frequency of flooding (67%). In climate change. The result aligns with Ayi and Undiandeye,
addition, 79% of the farmers perceived climate change as who identified crop rotation, mixed farming, and crop
a decrease in soil moisture. These findings indicate that diversification as the main indigenous adaptation practices
farmers have observed the consequences of climate change among Nigerian farmers.
over the years. Reports from the Nigerian Meteorological Mixed farming enables farmers to generate additional
Agency show an increase in temperature, rainfall intensity, income, thereby building their buffer capacity against
and the frequency of flooding in the study area between
2011 and 2021. The findings support Onyeneke et al., Table 1. Respondents’ perception of climate change
15
20
who noted that Nigerian farmers perceive climate change
in various forms. The respondents’ perception of increased Variable Increased Decreased No change Do not
pest and disease infestation aligns with the observations (%) (%) (%) know (%)
14
of Oti et al. Similarly, the heightened perception of rising Temperature 86 17 25 4
temperatures, sunshine intensity, and increased flooding Rainfall intensity 74 32 6 20
frequency reflects the alarming impact of these hazards Sunshine intensity 92 22 10 8
on sweet potato production. Osuji et al. documented that Drought 34 23 3 72
8
an increase in temperature alters seed germination and Flooding frequency 67 16 34 15
leads to severe damage to sweet potato leaf development.
Furthermore, it impacts sweet potato storage, contributing Soil moisture 23 79 14 16
to the rising rate of post-harvest losses. Perception is Incidence of pests 78 12 32 10
an essential prerequisite for enhancing climate change and diseases
adaptive capacity. However, Shrestha et al. reported
21
that indigenous farmers’ perceptions of climate change Table 2. Extent of use of indigenous practice in climate
change adaptation
Practices x̅ SD
Changing planting dates 3.5 1.0
Mixed farming system 3.4 1.1
Crop rotation 3.2 0.8
Crop diversification 3.1 0.9
Manuring 2.6 0.6
Planting of cover crops 2.6 0.6
Use of ashes for on-farm pest control 2.4 0.7
Multiple cropping 2.3 1.2
Raising mounds and ridges 2.1 1.1
Late planting 1.9 0.5
Mulching 1.7 0.8
Fallowing 1.5 0.9
Terracing 1.1 0.6
Figure 1. Awareness of climate change

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/EER025250048