Impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies in rural communities of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study focused on the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of some selected rural communities of Kaduna state, and the adaptation strategies employed by the people to ameliorate the scourge of climate change. Data for this study were obtained from a direct field study based on the result of 426 questionnaires that were administered to household heads. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. A five point Likert scale was used to determine the impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies employed by the rural communities. Focus Group Discussions were also held in each Local Government Area in order to obtain in-depth information on the changing climate. The study identified decline in crop yields with a mean score (x̄) of 4.01, increased sickness (x̄ = 3.85), decrease in soil fertility (x̄ = 3.83), decline in forest resources (x̄ = 3.66) as the most significant impacts of climate change in the area; whereas use of fertilizer/animals dung (x̄ = 3.89), water harvesting (x̄ = 3.68), planting of economic trees and drought resistant crops (x̄ = 3.25) among others were the most significant and sustainable adaptation strategies adopted by the rural people. The study recommended that awareness programs on climate change challenges should be intensified, and probabilistic analysis of observed rainfall data in order to provide information about the beginning, the end and length of the rainy season, and the amount of available water during the season. Lastly, sustainable adaptation strategies employed by the rural people should be strengthened.Keywords: Adaptation, climate change, impacts, livelihood, resources, rural communitie