Awareness and perceptions of climate change among extension workers of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study sought to ascertain awareness and differences in male and female extension workers perceptions of climate change. The study was carried out in Anambra state, Nigeria. A total of forty respondents (20 males and 20 females) purposively selected from four agricultural zones in the state were used for the study. Data were analysed using percentage, mean score and t- test. All( 100%) of males and 95% of the females were married. Majority (71.3%) of the males were in the age range of 45 to 54 years while majority(77.9%) of the females were in the age range of 40 . 49years. The mean ages were 45 years and 44 years for the male and female extension workers respectively. Majority of the male (60%) and female workers (68.5%) had HND/ degree certificate and had about 4 to 6 persons in the household. Females noticed and heard about climate change earlier than their male colleagues. Male extension workers sourced information on climate change mainly from radio (100%), newspaper (95%) and television (80%) while the female extension workers sourced mainly from radio (90%), fellow extension workers (85%) and friends/relations (70%). There were significant differences in their perception of swamp rice production (t= 2..4, p. 0.05), overgrazing of farmlands by livestock (t =- 2.7, p. 0.05) and high use of irrigation (t = - 2.2, p. 0.05) as causes of climate change. There were also significant differences in their perception of high humidity (t = 2.7, p. 0.05) as indicator of climate change and high incidence of weeds (t= -2.7, p. 0.05) as effect of climate change .Females perceived these factors more as causes, indicator and effects of climate change than males. The study emphasized on the need to educate/train both male and female extension workers generally on issues concerning climate change and specifically on the causes, indicators and effects of climate change that they are ignorant of. This is for onward Transmission to their clientele, enhanced agricultural productivity and encouraging future.