COMPETENCE NEEDS OF EXTENSION AGENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The overall purpose of the study was to determine the competence needs of extension agents for agricultural  adaptation  to  climate  change.  Specifically,   the  study  sought  to   ascertain  the knowledge level of extension personnel on climate change; ascertain perceived roles of extension in  agricultural   adaptation;   identify  perceived   competence   needs  of   extension   agents   for agricultural  adaptation;  determine  factors militating  against  competence  building of extension agents for agricultural adaptation and identify the possible strategies to building competence of extension agents. The study tested the hypothesis that there is no significant relationship between personal/institutional  characteristics  and  knowledge  level  of  extension  personnel  on  climate change and there is no significant relationship between personal factors and attitude of extension personnel to climate change. Data were collected using questionnaire administered to 93 extension personnel in the state Agricultural Development Programme. Data were presented with percentage and bar chart and analysed using mean score, standard deviation, factor analysis. The hypotheses were tested using logit model. Result of the study showed that 57.3% of extension personnel were females, while 43.0% were males. The mean age of the respondents was 45.2years and 93.5% of the respondents  were married. Majority (53.3%)  of the  personnel  had  B.Sc/HND,  33.7% had OND/NCE, while 13.0% had M.Sc. Majority (63.4%) of the respondents had high knowledge of climate  change  and  favourable  attitude  ((93.5%))  towards  climate  change.  The  respondents perceived  roles  of  extension  in  climate  adaptation  were  conducting  workshops,  seminars  for creating awareness/knowledge of climate change and adaptation (M=3.74), facilitating access to relevant information (M=3.54), carrying out demonstration for teaching farmers measures used to mitigate or adapt to the effect of climate change (M=3.45) and others. The respondents perceived communication  (M=2.93),  technical  knowledge/skill/information  on  climate  change  (M=2.89), participatory  extension  strategies  (M=2.81),  use  of   information  communication  technology (M=2.72),  facilitation (M=2.72) as major areas of  competence  needs of extension agents. The major constrains militating against competence  building of extension agents for climate change adaptation include inadequate fund (M=3.80), inadequate knowledge and technology on climate change (M=3.70),  lack of  incentives/motivation  of extension agents (M=3.64)  and others. The position of the extension personnel in extension organization and year spent in the organization were significantly (B=-5.844, p<0.05)(B=0.487,p<0.05)  related to knowledge level of  extension personnel,  respectively.  The study recommends  that extension workers  should possess mix  of competence  in the  areas  of  subject  matter,  communication,  ICTs  and  others  for  agricultural adaptation.  The  government  should  provide  the  needed  infrastructure  and  funds  to  extension organization for training of extension personnel.  Also there should be regular update of extension agents on climate change through in-house training underpinned by strong linkage and networking with research and other institutions.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background information

Agriculture is a strong and efficient activity which plays pivotal roles in provision of food, fibre,  fuel and  income  for human  existence.    It gainfully employs  over  70% of the  world’s population  and main source of income  for rural households  in developing  countries  (Chayal, Dhaka and Suwalka. 2010). Agriculture is an important sector of the Nigeria’s economy because eighty percent of the rural dwellers depend on it as their major  occupation,  engaging  in such activities as farming, hunting, fishing and livestock farming (Ekong, 2003). However in Nigeria, most of the agricultural production is rain fed. It depends highly on weather and climate in order to produce food and fiber necessary to  sustain human life. Consequently,  it is expected  to be vulnerable to climate variability and change (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),

2007).

Climate  change  is  defined  as a change  in  the  average  climatic  condition  of  a  place. (Anyadike,   2009). It refers to a statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer) (IPCC,

2007). According to Seiz and Foppa (2007) in Umunnakwe (2011) climate change is the result of many factors including the dynamic processes of the earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity and more recently, human activities or anthropogenic factors. The most concern of anthropogenic  factors  are the  increase  in the  carbon  dioxide  (CO2),  Chlorofluoro  carbons (CFC), Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and water vapour level due to emissions from fossil fuels, cement manufacture, agriculture and deforestation (Steinfeld, 2006; Oyebade, 2009).

According  to  IPCC  (2007),  agriculture  contributes  significantly  to  climate  change, primarily through the production and release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, methane  and  Nitrous  oxide  among  others.  Ebil  (2000)  in  Okolo  (2011)  reported  that  it  is responsible for approximately fifteen percent (15%) of all the greenhouse gas emission that help

to aggravate climate change. The “Slash and Burn” practice associated with farming system of forest and savannah regions is blamed for its enormous contribution to the accumulation of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere which contribute to climate change (Cleaver, Kevin and  Goetz,  1994  in Okoroh,  2011).  Fertilizer  also  is a significant  source  of emission  in the agricultural sector. Chemical fertilizers typically contain the CHC; N2O  and the application of fertilizer  to  vegetation  leads  to  N2O  emission  over  a  100  years  time  span  (United  Nation Framework Convention  on Climate Change (UNFCCC),  2007).  Natural decay of waste water, crop waste (e.g.basgasse from sugar cane, empty palm fruit from oil production) and animal waste (e.g. from piggeries or cattle herds) can cause emission of the potent CHC methane (CH4).

Globally, climate change has a lot of negative effect to life . It is considered as one of the

serious  threats  to  sustainable  development,  with  the  adverse  impacts  expected  on the  human health,  food  security,  environment,  and  physical  infrastructure  (African-Wide  Civil  Society Climate Change Initiative for Policy Dialogues (ACCID), 2010). FAO (2009), reports that it alters the condition for food safety by increasing diseases on plants and  animals. Due to increase in temperature caused by climate  change,  the oceans expand  raising sea levels and reducing the amount  of  land  available  for  agriculture  (Devereux  and  Edwards  2004).  Warmer  oceans experience greater exploration resulting in higher  rainfall which together with rising sea levels, contribute to erosion and flooding (McCarthy,  Canziani, LelaryDokkemet  al., 2001; Lama and Derkota 2009). Many parts of Africa are  suffering severe drought and floods which destroyed roads and buildings and wiped out millions of hectares of farmlands (Spores, 2008).

Climate   change   is  projected   to  have  significant   impacts   on  conditions   affecting agriculture, including temperature, carbon dioxide, gracial runoff, precipitation and the interaction of these elements  (Yesuf,  Difalce,  Deressa,  and Kohlin,  2008). It affects  agriculture  seriously through change in availability of water which leads to frequent floods and drought resulting in variability  in  crop  yields  in different  ecological  zones  (IPCC,  2007).  Adverse  effect  is  also

expected  from  the likely rise in the distribution  and intensity of existing pests, diseases,  and weeds, due to higher temperatures and humidity (Tubiello, Soussana and Howden, 2007). In the long run, climate change could affect agriculture in several ways including productivity, in terms of quantity and quality of crops, agricultural practices and inputs, environmental effect like soil erosion and soil drainage (leaching), rural spaces (through loss and gain of cultivated lands) and adaptation in which organisms may become more or less competitive. This results to substantial decline  in agricultural  productivity,  including  labour-productivity,  leading to increase  in food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and mortality rates (FAO, 2009).

As climate change is already here with us, threatening human life, food security,  health and the environment,  adaption to its effect is crucial for continued  existence of  humanity and increased resilience of the environment particularly in agrarian economy (e.g Nigeria). According to IPCC (2007), adaptation is the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects, to moderate harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. It refers to all those responses to climate change that may be used to reduce vulnerability or actions designed  to take advantage  of new opportunities  that may  arise as a result of climate change (Burton, Huq, Lim, Pilifosova and et al, 2002). Edoka (2012) refers to agricultural adaptation as adopting new farming practices, such as vermicomposting, to improve soil organic content, which is basic and essential in coping with and adapting to climate change. It is the actions taken by farmers  to  help  them  cope  with  the  change  or  effects  caused  by climate  change  to  reduce vulnerability on agriculture.

The need for adaptation to climate change presents a serious challenge to  government, planners, managers, researchers, extension system, private organizations, communities etc. It calls for multi-stakeholders approach to measures, policies, strategies and competency building aimed at  addressing  climate  change  phenomenon.  Adaptation  to  climate  change  requires  building competency of all stakeholders in the agricultural sector particularly the extension professionals

and farmers. According to Ozor and Nnaji (2011), agricultural extension has a key role to play in changing  the  knowledge,  attitude,  resilience  capacity  and  skills  of  the  people  (farmers)  for efficient adaptation to climate change. As   information brokers, educators and service provider to most  vulnerable  rural  farmers,  they  occupy  critical  position  in  the  forefront  for  agricultural adaptation to climate change.

Essentially, extension professionals play pivot role in disseminating useful information on climate change adaptation to farmers. To perform these duties properly, extension workers need to possess  certain  competencies.  Thus,  there  is  the  need  to  address  the  competence  needs  for significant  contribution  to  agricultural  adaptation  and  resilience  of  farming  communities  to climate change.

The term competence is used to describe the job requirements that the individual needs to know or to have in order to perform a task required by a specific occupation (Winterton 2009). According to American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA),  (2010), competence  is the totality of knowledge, skills, attributes, behaviors and attitudes (or competencies), as well as, the ability to orchestrate these competencies into the full range of activities necessary for professional practice.  In another words, it is the ability of an individual to perform a required task in their job.

Mulder   (2001),   states   that   continuing   competence   development   is   necessary   for professionals. This is particularly true of agricultural extension agents due to the changing pattern of agricultural system caused by changing climate. Trede and Whitaker (2000) also reiterated the fact  that  agricultural  extension  professionals  need  to  constantly  develop  and  enhance  their capabilities along with ongoing changes and challenges. Rapid changes in agricultural technology, in planning  and delivery of educational  programs,  and the  changing structure of the farming industry clearly indicate that agricultural extension instructors and trainers need to reassess their roles  and  responsibility  in  the  planning  and  delivery  of  farmers’  education  (Koukel  and Cummings,  2002).  It  is  an  imperative  particularly  when  there  is  a  discrepancy  between professionals’ competence and the needs of their clients, hence the need for the study.

1.2      Problem statement

Climate  change  is  seriously  threatening  rural communities  and  farmers.  According  to Agwu and Okimanhe (2009), evidence of the unpleasant impact of climate change abound in the southeast of Nigeria. These include increased cases of flooding and numerous gully erosion sites which have resulted  to loss of farmlands,  farmstead,  economic trees and  biodiversity.  Higher rainfall observed in the southern part of the country coupled with sea-level rise also resulted to crop losses due to water logging, loss of arable land and increased pest infestation (Nigeria First Communication  Commission  (NFNC),  2003).  Recently,  there  are  cases  of  flooding  which destroyed people’s properties, buildings and lives in Anambra, Bayalsa, Delta and Kogi States of Nigeria. Nweke (2010) reports showed  that Anambra State which is the study area is seriously affected by erosion and flooding due to climate change and there is low production of agricultural produce due to loss of  nutrients. These  resulted  to numerous  social problems  such as forced migration, unemployment and poverty (Nweke, 2010). Building adaptation capability of farming communities in the state and Nigeria as a whole is therefore a formidable challenge.

According  to  International  Food  Policy  Research  Institute,  farmers  reported  lack  of information   and  knowledge  of  appropriate   adaptation  measures  as  barriers  to   adaptation (http/[email protected]).  In Nigeria, many farmers especially the illiterate farmers do not know what these changes are all about; they lack a precise and comprehensive understanding of climate change and this can lead to misconception and inability to adapt to the changes (Okolo, 2012). According to Okali, (2004) in Okoro (2012), Nigeria’s high vulnerability to climate change is due to limited capacity to adapt which is attributed to low levels of awareness, financial resources, institutional and technological capability. The effectiveness with which farmers adapt to climate change significantly depends on how well it is understood by individual farmers. Ozor, Madukwe,

Onokala, Enete et al. (2010) opined that farmers’ ability to effectively respond to climate change challenges  is determined  by the quality of information available to them and how  easily they access    the    information.        Unfortunately    most    farmers    seem    to    lack    the    needed knowledge/information and resources for climate change adaptation. In south-east agro-ecological zone of Nigeria, Obiora, 2012 reported that there was no investment capability in terms of both equipment and human resource. In other words,  farmers are not adequately positioned to tackle the negative impact of climate change.

The above scenario suggests gap in extension role for agricultural adaptation to  climate change.  According  to  Davis  (2009),  Extension  should  play  crucial  role  in  technologies  and management  of information,  capacity development,  facilitating and  implementing  policies and programmes aimed at building local capacity for adaptation.  Extension is expected to facilitate generation  of knowledge,  building  awareness,  transfer  knowledge/technologies  and implement effective actions for management of risks (FAO, 2008). To perform these roles, there is need to develop relevant competence among  extension personnel. Specifically,  building competence of extension agents who are directly in contact with farmers and rural communities is an imperative. Therefore  the pertinent  questions are: what are the competence  needs of extension agents for agricultural adaptation to climate change? What are the attitude and knowledge level of extension agents on climate change? What are the specific skills, knowledge, behaviour/attitude required in areas of competence needs? What strategies are appropriate for acquiring the needed competence by extension agents? What are the possible constraints to competency building of extension agents for agricultural adaptation to climate change?

1.3      Purpose of the study

The general purpose of the study was to determine the competence needs of  extension agents for agricultural adaptation to climate change in Anambra state, Nigeria.

Specifically, the Objectives were to:

1.   ascertain the knowledge level of extension personnel on climate change ;

2.   ascertain the attitude of extension personnel to climate change;

3.   ascertain perceived role of extension in agricultural adaptation to climate change;

4.   identify perceived  competence  needs of extension  agents  for agricultural  adaptation  to climate change;

5.   determine   factors   militating   against   competence   building   of  extension   agents   on agricultural adaptation to climate change and

6.   identify the possible strategies to  building  competence of extension agents;

1.4      Hypothesis of the study

1.   There is no significant relationship between personal characteristics and knowledge level of extension personnel on climate change.

2.   There  is  no  significant  relationship  between  personal  factors  and  attitude  of  extension personnel to climate change.

1.5      Significance of the study Climate change has significant effect on agriculture due to its dependent on climate. The farmers are vulnerable to changes associated with climate and extension agents have critical roles to ply, given their roles in agricultural development and direct contact with the farmers. The study will  sensitize  and  increase  awareness  among  extension  professionals  of  their  pivot  role  in addressing the problem of climate change. Information/findings on the specific skills, knowledge and attitude required by extension agents are useful to extension practitioners and administrators in  developing  training  manuals,  workshops  or  programmes  for  developing  competences  of extension agents for agricultural adaptation to climate change. Also results of the study will be useful  to  policy  makers  in  formulating  holistic  and  multi-stakeholder  approach  to  capacity building for climate change adaptation in Nigeria. The study will also serve as a reference guide for  further studies in the area and related areas of climate change.

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