ASSESSMENT OF POULTRY FARMERS READINESS TO ADOPT CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN OGUN STATE.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Changing climate patterns makes the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices becomes imperative for poultry farmers to enhance resilience, mitigate environmental degradation, and sustain productivity. This study assessed poultry farmers’ readiness to adopt climate smart agricultural practices in Ogun State. Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 243 small and medium scale poultry farmers from six Poultry Association of Nigeria Ogun State Chapter (PANOG) group zones. Primary data were obtained on climate change related risks experienced, awareness of CSA practices, knowledge of CSA practices, readiness to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices, factors influencing readiness to adopt CSA practices and sources of information on climate smart agriculture practices from small and medium poultry farmers with questionnaire. Secondary data were also obtained on annual rainfall, temperature and relative humidity in the study area in the last ten years from Nigeria Meteorological Agency. Data were analyzed using percentages, frequency counts, mean and standard deviation, Chi-Square statistic and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Result reveals that the mean age, poultry experience of the respondents were 43±11.36years, 9±6.76years respectively, 55.6% of the respondents had Higher National Diploma/ Bachelor of Science in Education. Findings show that the highest mean temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were 300C, 2200mm and 80.0% recorded at year 2024 respectively. Climate related risks experienced by the respondents were increase in heat stress in the poultry birds due to rise in temp (x ̅=2.29) and changing in egg production or hatch rate (x ̅=2.08). Some of CSA practices aware by the respondents were integration of agroforestry practices (86.8%), and adoption of precision feeding (84.4%). Results shows that majority (66.7%) of the respondents were highly knowledgeable on CSA practices. Also, findings reveal that majority (69.4%) of the respondents were ready to adopt CSA practices. Furthermore, result shows that factors influencing the respondent’s readiness to adopt CSA practices were financial resources (x ̅=1.77) and availability of modern infrastructure and tools for implementation (=1.67). Sources of information on CSA practices were Poultry Farmers Association (81.9%) and social media (68.7%). PPMC revealed significant relationships (p≤0.05) between age (r= 0.22); years of poultry experience (r=0.12); awareness (r =0.29 and readiness to adopt climate smart agricultural practices. Chi-square statistic revealed significant association (p≤0.05) between closure of poultry production due to extreme weather event (χ2=0.91); challenges in accessing veterinary services during extreme weather (χ2=0.45) and readiness to adopt CSA practices. The study concludes that poultry farmers in Ogun State demonstrate substantial awareness and readiness to adopt CSA practices. Therefore, the study recommends that State Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with Ogun State Agricultural Development Program (OGADEP) and Poultry Association of Nigeria Ogun State Chapter (PANOG) should conduct regular training for poultry farmers on climate smart agricultural practices to equip them with practical skills to manage climate related risks affecting poultry production.