Rural Women's Knowledge and Perception of the Consequences of Climate Change Hazards in Farming Communities of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed rural women's knowledge and perception of the consequences of climate change hazards in farming communities of Ogun state, Nigeria. A simple random sampling procedure was used to select 159 rural women. Primary data were obtained using a structured interview guide and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated that the mean age of the rural women was 36 years, 36.5% had secondary education and average income was N18, 000 per month. Findings indicated that the major knowledge statement of rural women to climate change hazard were; climate change could affect crops if not harvested on time (95.0%) and if the weather is not conducive, one can shift from crop production to livestock productionorviceversa(89.2%). Also,theruralwomen'sperceptionoftheconsequencesofclimatechange were; the temperature which is drastically changing (x = 2.32), some plants and animal species are no more in existence (x = 2.26) and that storm is more frequent (x = 2.18). Also the major consequences of climate change indicated were; crop failure (x = 2.28), decrease of agricultural productivity and yield (x = 2.42) and food shortage (x = 2.07). There were significant association (P < 0.05) among age (r = 0.174), farming experience (r = 0.632), farm size (r = 0.553) and rural women's perception of the consequences on climate change. There was a significant relationship (P<0.05) between knowledge (r = 0.308**) and rural women's perception of the consequences of climate change. It was concluded that rural women's knowledge of the consequences of climate change was low. Based on this, it was recommended that extension agents and other relevant stakeholders should sensitise and disseminate useful information to rural women on the mitigation methods to climate change hazards in their farming communities.