FACTORS INFLUENCING AWARENESS OF THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON POULTRY PRODUCTION IN WESTERN AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the factors influencing awareness of the effects of climate change on poultry production in Western Agricultural Zone of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 239 respondents for the study. Data were obtained through the administration of structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that majority (67.4% and 83.7%) of the respondents were male and married, with a household size and farming experience of 8 persons and 8 years, respectively. The findings also showed that majority (62.8% and 70.3%) of the respondents had tertiary education and were civil servants, with a mean annual income and flock size of ₦307,322.18 and 185 birds, respectively. The result further revealed that age, marital status, household size, annual income, access to extension, and frequency of extension contact were positive and significant (P<0.01) in influencing level of awareness of the effects of climate change on poultry production in the study area. The major constraints faced by the respondents were inadequate capital (1^st), inadequate information on climate change (2^nd) and lack of government support (3^rd), among others. The study concluded that age, marital status, household size, annual income, access to extension and frequency of extension contact were the factors influencing the level of awareness of the effects of climate change among the respondents in the study area. To stem the tide of climate change, extension services should develop and implement comprehensive climate change education programs tailored to poultry farmers and respondents’ cooperatives should improve access to affordable credit, inputs, and technology for climate change adaptation, to mention few.