INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 2, No 4, 2012 © Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association Research article
ISSN 0976 – 4402
Climate change impact and adaptation opportunities on agricultural production in communities around Itu bridge-head in Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Ekpo, F. E1, Nzegblue, E. C2 1- Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Campus, Akwa Ibom State 2- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State
[email protected] doi:10.6088/ijes.00202030102
ABSTRACT A study was carried out in communities around Itu bridge-head in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to ascertain the pattern of climate change and associated hazards in farming and fishing community in the study area determine coping and adaptation strategies within agricultural sector. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were obtained using different Participatory Research Approaches (PRA) including, in-depth interview, focus group discussions and household questionnaires. In the community, a sample size of 30% of all households was interviewed. Findings showed that farmers and fishermen perceived changes in rainfall and temperature. The changes have affected the livelihood of farmers and fishermen in a number of ways resulting in reduced productivity. Trend analysis of rainfall showed decreasing amount from 1979 to 2010, whereas temperature and relative humidity showed increasing trend from 1979 to 2010 by respectively. The study revealed that communities around Itu Bridge-head in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are highly vulnerable to climate variability. Climate related hazards make natural resources of the area susceptible to climate- related extreme events such as floods, salinity intrusion, severe wind storm, sea level rise and river bank erosion. The livelihoods of the poor in the area are most likely to face higher levels of vulnerability under climate change due lack of finance, credit facilities, education and information. The study concluded that, knowledge on coping and adaptation that farmers and fishermen have should form a foundation for designing agricultural innovation systems to deal with impacts of climate change and variability. Keywords: Climate Variability, Adaptation measures, Communities in Itu bridge-head 1. Introduction Climate Change means a change or variability in weather of a region over a period of at least 30 years (IPCC, 2001). This simply means a change in the average weather conditions that a given region experiences over a specific period of time. Human activities through changes in land use, burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and increase in population are responsible for the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that result in global warming The effects of climate change or climate variability on agriculture in the developing countries have been well established through field experiments, statistical analyses recorded in crop yields, and monitoring of agricultural production. Increase intensity and frequency of climate-related hazards such as severe storms, drought and flooding, sea level rise, salinity intrusion and river bank erosion have
Received on March 2012 Published on May 2012
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implications for future food availability in Africa (NEST, 2004). The impact of climate change represents a major challenge to sustainable development, food security and high level of poverty in the Nigeria especially the Niger Delta. This is partly because climatic changes have already occurred and are still expected to be more pronounced in area than in other regions of the country, due to oil exploration and exploitation that resulted in environmental degradation of the area. This is also due to the economic and social importance of agriculture in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Yet the agricultural sector in the majority of tropical countries is already unable to provide a sustainable livelihood for the growing rural population, let alone to ensure national food security. Niger delta region of Nigeria are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their dependence on rainfed agriculture, high levels of poverty, low levels of human and physical capital, poor infrastructure, pollution from oil companies and low level of technology (IPCC, 2007). The vulnerability of climate change in agricultural sector is due to its high dependence on climate and weather and because people involved in agriculture tend to be poorer compared with region. About 35 percent of the country’s GDP comes from agriculture and related activities, and about 80% of the poor live in rural areas and work primarily in agriculture (IPCC, 2007). Nigeria’s economy is therefore predominantly agrarian and the exploitation of natural resources remains the driving force for its economic development Changes in rainfall pattern are likely to lead to severe water shortages and/or flooding with far reaching implications on agriculture, forestry, fishing and health systems. Rising temperatures will cause shifts in crop growing seasons which affects food security and changes in the distribution of disease vectors putting more people at risk from diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Temperature increase will potentially and severely increase rates of extinction for many habitats and species. Particularly affected will be tropical rainforests, coastal region, and aquatic habitats. Increasing sea levels mean greater risk of storm surge, inundation and wave damage to coastlines, particularly in Niger Delta which is a low lying delta. A rise in extreme weather events will have effects on health and lives as well as associated environmental and economic impacts. The irony of climate change impact in the area is that the rural poor farmers and fishermen who contribute the least to cause the problem are more vulnerable to its impacts. They are likely to suffer the more damage from climate change because they are least endowed with resources to combat the problem, and their economies are based largely on natural resourcesdependent sectors that are climate sensitive. In the face of these impact of climate change (global warming), there are two responses to the crises: mitigation (how to stop further releasing greenhouse gases into atmosphere) and adaptation (how people can survive in the presence of these disasters). IPCC, (2001) defined adaptation as response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects which allow the system to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. Communities around Itu bridge-head in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State is one of the Niger Delta state of Nigeria. The area is living in a low lying coastal region that is vulnerable to climate change impact. Climate-related hazards make biogeophysical resources of the area highly susceptible to climate -related extreme events such as floods, salinity intrusion from Atlantic Ocean severe wind storms, river bank erosion and excessive rise in temperature. In recent times, the frequency of these events has become alarming. The livelihoods of the rural resource-poor people (farmers and fishermen) are at high risk due to Ekpo, F. E, Nzegblue, E. C International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 2 No.4, 2012
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the extreme climatic induced events. The area lies at latitude 5010.480N and longitude 804.678E. The maximum annual mean temperature of the area is 290C to 340C. The area receives abundant insolation during the day. Rainy season commences in the area around March and extends to November, with July/August as then peak months, while the dry season occurs between Decembers to February, reaching its peak in January when the harmattan wind sweeps across the entire area. A short dry period (August break) occurs between the last week of July and early August (Ayoade, 1998). The vegetation in the area is predominantly the lowland rainforest formation, which has been disturbed over the years. Most disturbances are through human influence for which there is ample evidence in the form of farms, human settlement, cutting of fuel wood, logging and continuous flooding. The soils in this area are fertile and support a large human population. The population of the people in the area is about 5.200 (NPC, 2006), and their primary occupation is farming and fishing. A bridge-head community in Itu Local Government Area arose as a consequence of the construction of a bridge (Itu Bridge) across Cross River. This bridge was constructed in 1978 and has contributed tremendously to the economic and social development of the communities through which it transverses and most especially to the capital city of Calabar which hitherto was accessible from other neighboring state only through a ferry service across the River. The people are made-up of he mainly migrant fishermen and farmers and also there is a formal and informal business and other commercial activities taking place in the area. Since this community is quite close to the river, the area is highly vulnerable to the climate variability. Farming and fishing activities have been seriously disrupted with few coping mechanisms available to local people There is a growing consensus in the scientific literature that over the coming decades, higher temperatures and changing precipitation levels caused by climate change will be unfavorable for crop growth in many regions and countries particularly of the tropical redioons (Yesuf et al., 2008). Numerous studies on climate change, have been conducted in temperate and highly industrialized countries (Mendelsohn, 2000). Worldwide, little research has focused on developing regions such as those in the tropical rainforest where the poor who may be most vulnerable to climate changes live. Particularly in the Niger Delta region Nigeria where both temperature and precipitation approach extremes, there is not much relevant information on the incidences impact of climate change on the livelihood of the communities. Scientists fear that the most adverse effects are likely to occur in this region (Molua and Lambi, 2007). This study therefore determines the pattern of climate variability and the associated hazards in communities around Itu bridge-head assess the impact of climate change on the livelihood of the farming and fishing communities in the area. Determine coping and adaptation measures in the area. 2. Materials and methods The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data were obtained using field surveys and experiments, In-depth Interview, Focus Group Discussion and Questionnaire administered to the farmers and fishermen in study area. . Information on the communities and climatic conditions in the area were obtained from heads of communities, community chiefs, the spokesmen, elders and other opinion leaders that have live in the place for the past 30 years, these peoples are privileged to know the communities very well. The questionnaires were structured to elicit much information as possible on the climate-related extreme events; these included any previous studies on all possible impacts of climate change, identifying particularly vulnerable area and capacity building which may be taken to prepare for adaptation to climatic hazards in the area. Ekpo, F. E, Nzegblue, E. C International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 2 No.4, 2012
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Secondary data were collected from Meteorological Station (NIMET) Uyo, Akwa Ibom (Station Number 050705B), Agricultural Development Programme, Hydrological Station Uyo, Cross River Basin Authority, Seminars, conferences, workshop proceedings and text books. 2.1 Studies on climate trend The existing meteorological data were obtained from Uyo Meteorological Station, Akwa Ibom State Data were collected for 30 years from the Department of Meteorological Station (NIMET) Uyo, Akwa Ibom (Station Number 050705B). The parameters involved include daily temperature (maximum and minimum), relative humidity, and daily rainfall. The data were analyzed to ascertain the pattern of these parameters over the years. 2.2 Assessment of farming activities In farming assessment, the parameters assessed were those most affected by the impact on climate change. The parameters recorded were past and present status of season of planting, type of crops, time of flooding, income generation, chemical input, and gender role, method of cropping, yield of crop per unit area, change in cropping system, changes in disease pattern affecting crops, changes in the number of farmers over years, income from farming, labour availability and alternative occupation 2.3 Assessment of fishing activities In the fishing assessment, the parameters assessed include those that are sensitive to climaterelated impacts, such as the type of species of fish caught now and before, total catch now and before, catch-per- unit of effort (CPUE) now and before, total number of fishing boat used, changes in population of fish farmers and changes in the pricing of fish over the years. Information were obtained by physical counts and direct measurements as well as focus group discussion with the fishermen and the market women on the fish landing beach. Identification of fish species was done in the Fisheries Department, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. 2.4 Determining coping and adaptation strategies Adaptation involves a process of adjusting in relation to the impact of climate change; it includes ecological, social and economic adjustments in anticipation or actual changes in climatic conditions. The method used to assess coping and adaptation opportunities in the area were structured questionnaires, In Depth Interviews and Focus Group Discussion with the inhabitants of the area. The indices used in this assessment included identifying the alternative options that sustained their livelihood during climate disasters, coping measures to climate change events, and new technologies that can be introduced to remedy the situation. 2.5 Statistical analysis Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, trend analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation of coefficient were used and analysis of significant difference (FLSD) at P
