Poultry Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Changes in Niger State.

Abstract

The study investigated poultry farmers’ adaptation to climate changes in Bosso and Chanchaga Local Government Areas of Niger State. Eighty poultry farmers were selected using purposive random sampling technique and were interviewed with the aid of a well structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. The result shows that 60% of respondents perceived that there has been an increase in temperature while 55% perceived that rainfall has been irregular and unpredictable. Majority (48.8% and 43.8%) of respondents could not really indicate whether there have been changes in drought and relative humidity conditions respectively. The major adaptation measure against climate change was the use of ice blocks in the drinking water of the birds. The result of the multiple regression analysis shows that household size, farming experience, non-farm income and number of birds were positively significant to the choice of adaptation measures. It was therefore recommended that poultry farmers in the study area need to expand their farm size to cope with climate change.