Understanding Climate Change Awareness Among Farmers of Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria

Understanding Climate Change Awareness Among Farmers of Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Understanding Climate Change Awareness Among Farmers of Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria Adenegan Opeyemi This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5934985/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study examines climate change awareness among farmers in Ife South Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, focusing on their understanding of climate concepts, observed environmental changes, and adaptation strategies. Data was gathered using 300 structured surveys, 30 in-depth interviews, and 30 Participatory Rural Appraisal tools. SPSS was utilised for quantitative analysis, whereas NVivo was employed for qualitative thematic analysis. Radio and television constituted 60% of farmers' primary sources of climate change information, with 75% of participants acknowledging awareness of it. Environmental indicators revealed warming (85%), sporadic rainfall (80%), and diminished agricultural output (65%). Farmers employed crop diversification (50%) and drought-resistant crops (40%), while 25% took no action. The study found high irrigation maintenance costs and little government assistance. Thematic analysis identified deforestation as a key cause of climate change and psychological stress and pessimism as prevalent responses. Qualitative and quantitative data points matched across crop failure patterns and adaption barriers. The farmers comprehend the necessities of climate change, although their adaptability is constrained by resource limitations and institutional obstacles. Experience in farming and schooling correlated with heightened awareness and adaptive abilities (p<0.01). Studies indicate that farmers need cost-effective irrigation techniques, education on climate change, and governmental assistance to enhance their resilience. Policymakers and development practitioners may utilise the study's pragmatic recommendations to assist rural agricultural communities in adapting to climate change. Physical Geography climate change crop diversification traditional knowledge climate resilience policy development climate adaptation climate variability climate impacts. 1. Introduction The agricultural sector worldwide faces major dangers from climate change, especially in countries like Nigeria where rain-fed agriculture stands as the primary agrarian method (Oti et al., 2021 ). The 38% of the workforce engaged in agriculture demonstrates the critical importance of studying and reducing climate change influence on this sector (Alehile, 2023 ). Farmers' perspective of climate change and their understanding of the phenomenon shapes their adaptive behaviour (Mustafa et al., 2023 ). The study in Ebonyi State, Nigeria found that most farmers (93.6%) acknowledged climate change as weather pattern variability yet their understanding levels varied widely. Results from Oti et al. ( 2021 ) showed that extensive knowledge was present in 16.1% of the farmers yet 36.4% held moderate understanding and 26.4% exhibited minimum knowledge while another 21.1% demonstrated no understanding. Farmers' ability to implement effective adaptation strategies diminishes when their understanding of climate change differs. Agriculturalists monitor agroecological indicators like cricket chirping and cattle egrets watching and flying termite abundance to anticipate upcoming seasonal climate alterations (Walsh et al., 2020 ; Catalano, 2022 ). The metrics provide farmers with quantitative measures to evaluate their cropping pattern diversity alongside adaptive strategies (Agboola et al., 2024 ). The practical use of traditional methods remains restricted by limited documentation of indigenous solutions (Agboola et al., 2024 ) and minimal younger generation backing (96.2%) (Agboola et al., 2024 ). Farmers' ability to adapt to climate change depends heavily on their access to information about climate change. Radio serves as the primary source of climate change information in Nigeria followed by friends and family (Oti et al., 2021 ). Personal observations come in third place at 40% of respondents. Social media (23%) and extension workers (21.6%) round out the top five information sources. Formal information dissemination channels need enhancement for farmers to obtain accurate timely information because of their current dependence on informal sources (Ibrahim et al., 2015 ). According to Yila et al. ( 2022 ), inadequate climate change awareness among farmers produces substantial effects specifically on food security. Agricultural productivity faces direct consequences from climate change effects which include unpredictable weather patterns shortened growing seasons diminished soil fertility and premature rainfall cessation (Furtak & Wolińska, 2023 ). Water levels in Benue State's essential agricultural region have become a concern due to high rainfall amounts and the Lagdo dam discharge from Cameroon that threatens both agricultural production and farm-based livelihoods (Achirga, 2024 ). Current efforts aim to enhance Nigerian farmers' knowledge about climate change together with strategies for adaptation. The new programme focuses on developing sustainable agriculture systems by integrating fruit-bearing trees within traditional farm operations. Agri-business operators can generate carbon credits through carbon emission trapping in this programme to boost their financial gains while decreasing African carbon emissions (Adamaagashi et al., 2023 ). African agricultural experts continue to evaluate multiple methods that can create sustainable agricultural development (Olutumise et al., 2024 ). Achirga ( 2024 ) suggests that the discourse on sustainable soil health management is characterised by a contradiction between advocates of excessive chemical fertiliser products and proponents of agroecology, which merges traditional agricultural practices with contemporary scientific innovations to strengthen soil biodiversity and resilience. Knowledge levels of local farmers about climate change within Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria require thorough assessment to develop efficient adaptive measures. The research investigates how Ife South LGA farmers understand climate change by evaluating their awareness and analysing factors influencing their adaptive strategies. 2. Materials and Methods The study was conducted in Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria. Agriculture serves as the primary economic support in the rural areas of these communities. This study focused primarily on the Aye-Amodo, Olode, Mefoworade, Omifunfun, and Oke-Owena/Gbengbeleku villages. The study area was selected because its farmers heavily depended on climate-sensitive agricultural practices and climate change affected their farming operations. This research design leveraged mixed methods to explore climate change awareness within farmer populations. To obtain a thorough understanding of the research topic this approach employed both quantitative methods and qualitative approaches. Standardised questionnaires served as data collection tools to evaluate farmers' understanding of climate change concepts alongside their environmental perception. The assessment contained visual resources as well as graphical displays that depicted changing rainfall patterns and temperatures besides closed and open-ended survey question formats. Visual aids were added to the materials to help respondents with low literacy skills understand the subject better. Also, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodologies was utilised including seasonal calendars and trend analysis to collect qualitative data. The traditional seasonal calendars delivered farmers a method to monitor both the climate patterns and crop production cycles during the different periods. Participating farmers applied trend analysis to track environmental patterns and agricultural differences across time. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted targeting specific farmers to understand their climate change perception and agricultural operation vulnerability. For the sampling, a systematic method of choosing survey participants was adopted through multiple stages of sampling. The selection of five rural areas including Aye-Amodo, Olode, Mefoworade, Omifunfun, and Oke-Owena/Gbengbeleku was deliberate based on their agricultural importance and exposure to climate change risks. The survey as well as Participatory Rural Appraisal sessions included randomly selected farmers from every village. The study sample consisted of 300 farmers from Ife South LGA, Nigeria, providing a robust representation of the local farming community. In addition to the 300 farmers, 30 key informant interviews were conducted to gather more in-depth qualitative insights. This mixed-method approach combined quantitative data from farmers with qualitative insights from key informants to better understand climate change awareness, adaption tactics, and agricultural community concerns. For data analysis, IBM SPSS v.24 was used to process the questionnaire data to create quantitative results. Descriptive statistics delivered data through frequencies and percentages to summarise findings yet inferential statistics explored natural connections and patterns between farmers' climate change perceptions. The study used NVivo software for analysing thematic patterns within the qualitative data obtained from PRA tools and interviews. Transcribed responses underwent an analytical process that identified classification areas depicting farmers' climate change perceptions along with their lifecycle experiences and adaptive practises. Qualitative findings received additional validation through comparisons with quantitative data results in this research. All research practises followed ethical principles by getting subjects' consent before gathering data. All participants received guaranteed data confidentiality and had the freedom to withdraw from the study at any time with no adverse effects. 3. Results The study examined climate change awareness among 300 farmers in Ife South LGA, Nigeria, concentrating on demographic trends, comprehension of climate concepts, perceived environmental alterations, adaption strategies, and determinants of awareness. The collected quantitative data showed a high level of awareness regarding climate change amounted to 75% while farmers acknowledged both rising temperatures affecting 85% of them and irregular rainfall patterns affecting 80% of them. A quarter of respondents reported zero adaptation implementations among their adaptive actions. Inputs from qualitative data analysis revealed self-identified factors (deforestation) as well as institutional barriers (insufficient government support) that contributed to the situation. Analysis revealed important associations between schooling levels and agricultural background coupled with climate understanding based on the provided table information. Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents (n = 300) Variable Category Frequency Percentage (%) Gender Male 180 60.0 Female 120 40.0 Age Group 18–30 years 45 15.0 31–45 years 120 40.0 46–60 years 105 35.0 > 60 years 30 10.0 Education Level No Formal Education 90 30.0 Primary Education 105 35.0 Secondary Education 75 25.0 Tertiary Education 30 10.0 Farming Experience 15 years 120 40.0 Table 1 shows that male participants comprised 60% while people in their 31–45 age range amounted to 40% of respondents. Responses showed different educational backgrounds because primary education level equalled 35% whereas 30% of respondents lacked any formal schooling. The farmers demonstrated substantial agricultural expertise based on their 85% participation rate at minimum five years into farming with 45% attaining 5–15 years and 40% exceeding 15 years. Respondents demonstrate strong practical agricultural expertise yet their low formal educational attainment likely affects how they understand and utilize climate change information. Climate variability adaptation and responsive measures faced by this group might be affected by sociodemographic factors. Table 2 Awareness of Climate Change Concepts (n = 300) Variable Response Frequency Percentage (%) Heard of "Climate Change" Yes 225 75.0 No 75 25.0 Source of Awareness Radio/TV 135 60.0* Agricultural NGOs 45 20.0* Community Meetings 30 13.3* Personal Experience 15 6.7* Recognize Local Changes Temperature Rise 210 70.0 Erratic Rainfall 240 80.0 Reduced Crop Yield 195 65.0 According to Table 2 radio/TV served as the main information source for farmers who exhibited climate change awareness at a level of 75%. Agricultural Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (20%) together with community gatherings (13.3%) helped spread awareness but at a reduced rate. People who noticed environmental modifications reported erratic rainfall by 80% along with temperature increases by 70% and decreased crop production by 65%. The data reveals harmonization with farmer-reported observations of climate-modified weather patterns (Table 3 ). The data shows that 25% of respondents did not know about climate change despite ongoing outreach attempts that limit farmers' ability to build resilience and adapt to changes. Table 3 Farmers’ Observations of Environmental Changes (n = 300) Observed Change Frequency Percentage (%) Increased Temperature 255 85.0 Delayed Onset of Rainy Season 240 80.0 Reduced Rainfall Amount 225 75.0 Increased Pest/Disease Incidence 180 60.0 Drying of Local Water Sources 165 55.0 Analysis in Table 3 shows that 85% of farmers documented higher temperature readings and 80% reported delayed rainy seasons. The survey data showed that 75% of farmers faced reduced rainfall with 60% reporting higher pest and disease occurrences and 55% noting drying conditions of local water resources. The data shows direct alignment with qualitative reports which link deforestation to temperature increases (Table 6 ) while underscoring the necessity for immediate adaptive solutions (Table 4 ). These widespread observations validate farmers' direct encounters with climate variability thereby underscoring the need for improved climate education and support systems for building agricultural resilience and sustainability. Table 4 Adaptation Strategies Adopted by Farmers (n = 300) Adaptation Strategy Frequency Percentage (%) Crop Diversification 150 50.0 Use of Drought-Resistant Crops 120 40.0 Soil Conservation Practices 90 30.0 Irrigation 60 20.0 No Adaptive Measures 75 25.0 The data in Table 4 indicates that 50% of farmers chose crop diversification and 40% selected drought-resistant crops as adaptation strategies. The data reveals that 30% of farmers practiced soil conservation but irrigation received implementation from only 20% of respondents. The data reveals that a quarter of farmers did not take any adaptive steps to cope with climate change. Quantitative data indicates that farmers fail to use irrigation which matches qualitative reports showing financial difficulties (Table 6 ). Consequently, resource scarcity impedes adaptive measures. Targeted interventions which combine financial support with climate-smart agricultural training should be implemented because they help farmers adapt to climate change while protecting agricultural productivity levels. Table 5 Relationship Between Demographic Factors, Climate Awareness, and Adaptation Variable χ² Value df p-value Conclusion Awareness vs. Education 18.75 3 0.001** Significant association Awareness vs. Age Group 6.24 3 0.101 No significant association Awareness vs. Gender 1.35 1 0.245 No significant association Adaptation vs. Farming Exp. 12.60 2 0.002** Significant association Education level demonstrates a significant relationship with climate awareness (χ² = 18.75, p = 0.001) according to Table 5 along with farming experience showing a connection to adaptation strategies (χ² = 12.60, p = 0.002). This result reveals that farmers who have pursued education gain a better understanding of climate change because they receive improved access to information and analytical capabilities. Farmers who have spent more years farming demonstrate a stronger propensity to use adaptation strategies probably because they directly encounter climate variability. The associations between awareness of climate change and both age (χ² = 6.24, p = 0.101) and gender (χ² = 1.35, p = 0.245) did not reach statistical significance. Table 6 Thematic Analysis of Perceived Causes and Impacts of Climate Change Theme Sub-Theme Frequency Example Quote Perceived Causes of CC Deforestation 12 “Our forests are gone; the heat is unbearable now.” Divine Intervention 9 “God is angry with our actions.” Impact on Livelihoods Crop Failure 18 “Cassava yields have dropped by half in 10 years.” Financial Loss 15 “I now borrow money to buy seeds.” Food Insecurity 12 “We can no longer grow enough to feed our families.” Emotional Impact Stress and Anxiety 9 “I worry about how to survive the next season.” Hopelessness 6 “There’s no future in farming anymore.” A thematic investigation of farmers’ perspectives regarding climate change origins and effects appears in Table 6 . Studies have shown that deforestation (40%) ranked as the top reported cause followed by respondents who linked tree loss to higher temperatures. Also, 30% minority held the belief that climate change was a result of divine interference manifested through spiritual environmental degradation. Furthermore, livelihoods suffer greatly from the combination of failed crops affecting 60% of farmers and 50% experiencing monetary losses. A significant number of farming households face food scarcity issues (40%) which shows the immediate necessity for implementing adaptive measures. High levels of anxiety and stress and feelings of hopelessness can be found across 30% and 20% of respondents which indicate strong emotional harm that makes it difficult for people to undertake proactive adaptation measures. Table 7 Thematic Analysis of Adaptation Strategies and Challenges Theme Sub-Theme Frequency Example Quote Adaptation Strategies Crop Diversification 15 “I now plant cassava and maize instead of just yam.” Use of Drought-Resistant Crops 12 “I switched to crops that need less water.” Soil Conservation 9 “I use mulch to keep the soil moist.” Adaptation Challenges Lack of Government Support 18 “No one teaches us new farming methods.” High Cost of Irrigation 15 “Fuel for water pumps is too expensive.” Limited Access to Information 12 “We don’t know where to get better seeds.” Community Coping Mechanisms Cooperative Farming 9 “We pool resources to buy fertilizers.” Indigenous Knowledge 6 “We rely on traditional weather signs.” The data in Table 7 reveals farmers' methods for adapting to changes along with their encountered obstacles and community-based coping approaches. Crop diversification was identified by 15 participants as the most commonly used adaptation technique in line with Table 4 which showed 50% farmer adoption. Farmers across the study areas have employed drought-resistant crops and soil conservation practices in their efforts to manage climate variability (a total of 21 mentions). However, significant barriers persist. The 15 mentions of high irrigation costs reinforce the limited adoption of irrigation technology (20%) shown in Table 4 because of financial obstacles. The effective adaptation process remains restricted by insufficient government help (180 mentions) and restricted availability of information (12 mentions). While facing obstacles farmers sometimes collaborate through cooperative agriculture (90 mentions) and utilize traditional local wisdom (6 mentions) yet these methods alone cannot sustain long-term sustainable practices. Table 8 Triangulation of Qualitative and Quantitative Findings Qualitative Theme Quantitative Finding Alignment Interpretation Perceived Causes: Deforestation 85% report temperature rise (Table 3 ) High Farmers link deforestation to rising temperatures. Impact: Crop Failure 65% report reduced crop yield (Table 2 ) High Qualitative quotes confirm quantitative observations. Adaptation: Crop Diversification 50% adopt diversification (Table 4 ) High Farmers’ strategies align with reported practices. Challenge: High Irrigation Costs 20% use irrigation (Table 4 ) High Financial barriers limit irrigation adoption. Emotional Impact: Stress Not directly measured quantitatively Partial Stress is inferred from adaptation challenges. Table 8 demonstrates that qualitative and quantitative data points align strongly to show how farmers understand climate change phenomena. The observed link between deforestation and climate change stands strong because 85% of respondents detected rising temperatures (Table 3 ). The observed connection between deforestation and elevated temperatures has led farmers to recognize why tree-planting programs represent an essential solution. The effects of climate change on agricultural production stand as documented facts in both qualitative and quantitative data collections. The qualitative reports from farmers about crop failure match the quantitative results which showed that 65% of respondents experienced crop yield reductions (Table 2 ). Crop diversification adoption at 50% in Table 4 shows agreement with qualitative responses which demonstrate farmers are actively responding to environmental changes. However, significant challenges hinder adaptation. The cost of irrigation creates a major obstacle for farmers since Table 4 shows only 20% of farmers use irrigation. The high cost of water pump fuel received as an oral complaint from farmers confirms economic barriers as one of the principal hurdles of adaptation. The emotional consequences of climate change show a mixed level of agreement between qualitative and quantitative findings. The quantitative study did not measure anxiety or stress as findings yet these issues emerged prominently from participant interviews. Research into adaptation challenges indicates that farmers face both financial problems and food scarcity which reveals the mental strain of climate change. Discussion The study examined how farmers understand climate change while analysing their adopted practices and environmental response obstacles. The research showed that numerous farmers realise climate change exists and detects its consequences but adaptation efforts face hurdles because of fiscal restrictions together with insufficient public assistance and psychological concerns. Both the study findings and previous studies demonstrate similar patterns but additionally show essential weaknesses related to farmers' climate change education and adapted resource availability along with the mental burden of climate unpredictability. Farmers' Awareness of Climate Change and Information Sources The research study discovered that 75% of surveyed farmers knew about climate change and mainly received their information through television and radio programmes. According to Fahad and Wang ( 2020 ) as well as Hyland et al. (2016) radio serves an essential role by spreading climate-related information to rural communities through mass media platforms. Farmers in multiple developing areas turn to mass media as their primary platform to receive climate updates and agricultural advice according to Quiroga et al. (2015). The one-way nature of radio and television broadcasts helps generate awareness but restricts farmers from actively analysing the information sent to them. Additionally, studies outcomes showed that agricultural NGOs transmitted climate change information to only 20% of farmers with community gatherings reaching a much smaller segment at 13.3%. Contrary to Sarkar & Padaria ( 2015 ) and Ricart et al. ( 2023 ) who showed that when NGOs demonstrate high involvement rural areas experience improved climate literacy levels. The study shows that both agricultural NGO outreach and community meeting attendance are insufficient among farmers in this region. Local educational programmes focusing on climate awareness must develop interactive approaches to knowledge sharing since passive learning by consumption of information has proven ineffectual. A significant knowledge gap was also identified, as 25% of surveyed farmers did not understand the term "climate change." The results indicate that although farmers hear climate-related information often it does not ensure a consistent understanding level. The areas which had low climate education accessibility experienced particularly high negative impacts and these locations reaffirmed the need to distribute climate information to all farming communities. Sarkar & Padaria ( 2015 ) determined that areas which receive government or NGO-led climate education initiatives show higher levels of climate awareness (2015). Farmers' Observations of Climate Change Impacts The study participants from farming households documented multiple significant changes in their surrounding areas. Farmers most often noticed unpredictable rainfall patterns at an 80% rate along with temperature increases at 70% and crop yield reduction at 65%. Studies from Madhuri & Sharma ( 2020 ) along with Hyland et al. (2016) have already established erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures as the main indicators of climate change in agricultural regions. Farmers show their capacity to identify environmental transformations based on which their views about climate change match scientific evidence thus validating their real-life experiences as useful climate intelligence (Mustafa et al., 2019; Ado et al., 2019). Through the study, researchers confirmed that 85% of farmers experienced temperature rises 80% experienced delayed rainy seasons and 75% observed reduced rainfall patterns. Smallholder farmers experience disruptions in their operations because season consistency fails to remain stable due to climate change (Hyland et al., 2016; Ado et al., 2019). The majority of farmers reported that crop diseases from insects had elevated since 60% of them observed this change and 55% experienced difficulty accessing water resources. The slowdown of rainy season initiation presents farmers with major difficulties because it disrupts their traditional agricultural planning procedures. Additionally, Mustafa et al. ( 2023 ) verified how climate change affects both pest populations' movement and water supply conditions worsening in the process. Legitimate access to water presents itself as a severe problem since unrestricted irrigation entails greater agricultural hurdles in areas without developed irrigation systems. Several research studies by Paudel et al. (2020) and Ibrahim et al. ( 2015 ) point out that water scarcity stands as the major challenge farmers face during climate adaptation. Adaptation Strategies and Their Limitations The majority of farmers integrated two main adaptation strategies to confront climate change including crop diversification at 50% whereas drought-resistant crops usage reached 40%. The findings match the research conducted by Mustafa et al. (2019) and Ricart et al. ( 2023 ) about how diversification with drought-resistant crops serves as common climate adaptation practises. Nepalese farmers commonly modify their agricultural practices to handle changing rainfall distribution according to Paudel et al. (2020). Various countries worldwide focus on drought-resistant crop distribution because drought events become more frequent (Fahad & Wang, 2020 ; Sarkar & Padaria, 2015 ). Crop diversification establishes climate protection but simultaneously brings new operational difficulties to the farming environment. The addition of multiple agricultural crops makes it difficult for farmers to concentrate on lucrative plant species therefore reducing their potential revenue. The implementation of drought-resistant crops requires more affordable seeds and accessible enhanced crop varieties since they boost water efficiency. The farmers adopted two primary adaptation approaches composed of soil conservation methods which they used at a rate of 30% alongside irrigation methods implemented by 20% of the farmers. Research has confirmed that irrigation adoption rates stay low because the expansion of irrigation faces monetary and infrastructure challenges (Onyeneke et al., 2017). Research evidence revealed that high fuel prices for irrigation pumps stood as farmers' most significant obstacle to using irrigation techniques because 15% reported financial issues. The findings support Ricart et al. ( 2023 ) and Mustafa et al. ( 2023 ) who established cost barriers as well as insufficient government support as main obstacles to irrigation adoption. The survey results indicated that a quarter of farmers did not adopt any climate adaptation practices. Many farmers do not take any climate adaptation actions since they face financing problems and lack sufficient awareness about climate change and its extensive effects. Ricart et al. ( 2018 ) established that farmers who lack connections to extension services together with agricultural networks demonstrate lower tendencies to implement adaptation strategies because they lack essential information about proper practices. Psychological and Socioeconomic Barriers to Adaptation The study data showed that climate change created anxiety and stress which affected 30% of farmers as well as 20% who demonstrated hopelessness regarding their farming future. Evidence indicates that climate change causes both agricultural production decline and emotional strain which affects farmers. Multiple research studies (Harmer & Rahman, 2014 ; Ado et al., 2019) confirm the discovery that climate uncertainty causes farmers to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety and develop decision paralysis. Environmental stress caused by climate change encourages farmers to consider their efforts at adaptation as useless. Harmer & Rahman ( 2014 ) demonstrate that uncertainty about the future causes farmers to avoid making proactive planning investments since they feel that their efforts will not bring positive results. According to Mustafa et al. ( 2023 ), stress creates obstacles in developing proper decision-making abilities which stops farmers from performing essential adaptation planning. Community-Based Resilience and Policy Implications Farmer communities used cooperative farming practices in conjunction with knowledge-sharing networks as adaptation strategies. Group strategies that address climate issues through collaborative projects gain strength from these initiatives but such projects face geographical and social boundaries which constrain their effectiveness. Community-based strategies require continuous external support with sustained resource allotment to sustain their effectiveness throughout time according to Ricart et al. ( 2018 ). These initiatives experience difficulties in confronting all climate challenges of farmers because they lack formal policy support. Research showed that high irrigation system costs together with insufficient support from the government and limited agricultural information access form the main obstacles to climate adaptation. The study confirms previous research conducted by Soubry et al. ( 2020 ) and Mustafa et al. (2019) which detected financial limitations together with institutional resistance as significant barriers toward rural adaptation to climate change. Governments in developing nations prevent their farmers from adapting through their lack of action according to research by Akhtar et al ( 2020 ) and Below et al (2015). The current obstacles require receiving specialised policy approaches. The government should build public irrigation programmes alongside inexpensive agricultural financing and extend information services to create climate awareness. Financial inclusion proves essential for building climate resilience so microfinance programmes should serve smallholder farmers according to Akhtar et al. ( 2020 ) and Below et al. (2015). Conclusion This study explored farmers’ understanding of climate change and their ability to recognize its effects through firsthand observations. The study showed that farmers had basic knowledge about climate change based on personal experiences instead of learning through formal programs from extension services. The key climate change indicators making themselves apparent to farmers included changing rainfall patterns alongside higher temperatures and diminished agricultural outputs. Because of these indicators, farmers started implementing several adaptation techniques through various choices of crops soil protection measures and different planting varieties. The farmers faced major barriers in adapting to climate change because they lacked enough funds poor irrigation facilities and limited support from the government. The study revealed that climate change brings substantial psychological consequences as farmers develop considerable stress and worry about sustaining their way of living. The investigation had valuable conclusions but restricted itself through its small research sample size because it could not portray all experiences in agricultural communities. Since the analysis depends on farmers' personal reports it becomes possible that their subjective views of climate change do not match objective scientific measurements. The research should expand its sample size across several geographic regions to better understand climate adaptation in agricultural practices. Although there are acknowledged limits to this study its findings present valuable policy recommendations. The agricultural extension services need immediate improvement to deliver accurate climate information to all farmers on time. Government and NGO organisations need to extend their support by offering financial programmes along with funding irrigation infrastructure and climate adaptation education. Support programmes which focus on climate change-related psychological impacts must be integrated into communities to boost farming resilience by creating more stress-free environments that promote proactive adaptation methods. Future research needs to evaluate the sustained success of adaptation methods while exploring traditional wisdom for strengthening resilience against climate change. Moving research across multiple geographic regions will help develop an all-inclusive method for agricultural climate adaptation. Policymakers together with stakeholders need to fill these knowledge gaps because it will help them develop specific interventions which support farmers through climate change challenges. Declarations "This study was approved by the Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Agriculture of Ife South Local Government, Osun State 9th of September 2024 and 10th of September 2024 respectively. All participants provided informed consent before their involvement in the study, and the research was conducted following ethical guidelines set forth by the committee." References Abraham TW, Fonta WM (2018) Climate change and financing adaptation by farmers in northern Nigeria. Financial Innov 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-018-0094-0 Achirga A (2024), September 20 In Nigeria’s food belt, fears of another flood as Cameroon opens dam . 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Agricultural Res 3(2):165–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-014-0103-0 Quiroga S, Suárez C (2015) Climate change and drought effects on rural income distribution in the Mediterranean: a case study for Spain . https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-3-4353-2015 Ricart S, Gandolfi C, Castelletti A (2023) Climate change awareness, perceived impacts, and adaptation from farmers’ experience and behaviour: a triple-loop review. Reg Envriron Chang 23(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-023-02078-3 Ricart S, Olcina J, Rico A (2018) Evaluating Public Attitudes and Farmers’ Beliefs towards Climate Change Adaptation: Awareness, Perception, and Populism at European Level. Land 8(1):4. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8010004 Robert UO, Igberi CO, Uwadoka C, Aligbe JO (2018) Status of climate-smart agriculture in southeast Nigeria . 83 (2), 333–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-017-9773-z Sarkar S, Padaria RN (2015) Measuring Farmers’ Awareness and Knowledge Level about Climate Change and Formulating Future Extension Strategies. Indian Res J Ext Educ 15(1):107–111 Soubry B, Sherren K, Thornton TF (2020) Are we taking farmers seriously? A review of the literature on farmer perceptions and climate change, 2007–2018. J Rural Stud 74:210–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.09.005 Walsh MK, Backlund PW, Buja L, DeGaetano A, Melnick R, Prokopy L, Takle E, Todey D, Ziska L (2020) Climate indicators for agriculture. Mountainscholar.org . https://doi.org/10.25675/10217/210930 Yila KM, Gboku MLS, Lebbie MS, Kamara LI (2022) Changes in Rainfall and Temperature and Its Impact on Crop Production in Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone. Atmospheric Clim Sci 13(1):19–43. https://doi.org/10.4236/acs.2023.131003 Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5934985","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":409459858,"identity":"366c2b74-65b2-4715-b2c9-49a9a2ff2457","order_by":0,"name":"Adenegan Opeyemi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABDElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFCCBBSehByIPPCAFC3GYC0JWBTi0sKQ2IBFEAXwtycfe/Dhl10ev3TzMYmPORbp88MOPwTaYien24Bdi8SZZ+mGM/uSiyXnHEuTnLlNInfj7TQDoJZkY7MDOKy5kWMmzdvDnLgBzABpmZ0A0nIgcRsOLfI38r9J/+2pB2oBMbZJpBvOTv+AV4vBjRw2aYYfh0G2sEkzbpNIkJfOwW+L4ZlnZpK9DccTZ845ZmzZu03CcIN0TsGBBAPcfpE7nvxM4sef6sR+6eaHN35uq5OXn52++cOHCjs5nN4HAcY2ICHBwCIBdipYpQEe5WDwB6yF+QM4QBoIqR4Fo2AUjIKRBgDF92hoHBsxYAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0305-3420","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Adenegan","middleName":"","lastName":"Opeyemi","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-01-31 09:09:39","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":true,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true,"humanSubjectConsent":true,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5934985/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5934985/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":75285851,"identity":"eaa48e29-86bb-4cb4-add4-d4dc5b800757","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-02-03 04:34:19","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":918007,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5934985/v1/e1d5d2bc-b17d-4da7-9573-b6e92619b3ff.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding Climate Change Awareness Among Farmers of Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe agricultural sector worldwide faces major dangers from climate change, especially in countries like Nigeria where rain-fed agriculture stands as the primary agrarian method (Oti et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). The 38% of the workforce engaged in agriculture demonstrates the critical importance of studying and reducing climate change influence on this sector (Alehile, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers' perspective of climate change and their understanding of the phenomenon shapes their adaptive behaviour (Mustafa et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). The study in Ebonyi State, Nigeria found that most farmers (93.6%) acknowledged climate change as weather pattern variability yet their understanding levels varied widely. Results from Oti et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) showed that extensive knowledge was present in 16.1% of the farmers yet 36.4% held moderate understanding and 26.4% exhibited minimum knowledge while another 21.1% demonstrated no understanding. Farmers' ability to implement effective adaptation strategies diminishes when their understanding of climate change differs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgriculturalists monitor agroecological indicators like cricket chirping and cattle egrets watching and flying termite abundance to anticipate upcoming seasonal climate alterations (Walsh et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Catalano, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). The metrics provide farmers with quantitative measures to evaluate their cropping pattern diversity alongside adaptive strategies (Agboola et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). The practical use of traditional methods remains restricted by limited documentation of indigenous solutions (Agboola et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e) and minimal younger generation backing (96.2%) (Agboola et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers' ability to adapt to climate change depends heavily on their access to information about climate change. Radio serves as the primary source of climate change information in Nigeria followed by friends and family (Oti et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Personal observations come in third place at 40% of respondents. Social media (23%) and extension workers (21.6%) round out the top five information sources. Formal information dissemination channels need enhancement for farmers to obtain accurate timely information because of their current dependence on informal sources (Ibrahim et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccording to Yila et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e), inadequate climate change awareness among farmers produces substantial effects specifically on food security. Agricultural productivity faces direct consequences from climate change effects which include unpredictable weather patterns shortened growing seasons diminished soil fertility and premature rainfall cessation (Furtak \u0026amp; Wolińska, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Water levels in Benue State's essential agricultural region have become a concern due to high rainfall amounts and the Lagdo dam discharge from Cameroon that threatens both agricultural production and farm-based livelihoods (Achirga, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent efforts aim to enhance Nigerian farmers' knowledge about climate change together with strategies for adaptation. The new programme focuses on developing sustainable agriculture systems by integrating fruit-bearing trees within traditional farm operations. Agri-business operators can generate carbon credits through carbon emission trapping in this programme to boost their financial gains while decreasing African carbon emissions (Adamaagashi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). African agricultural experts continue to evaluate multiple methods that can create sustainable agricultural development (Olutumise et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Achirga (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e) suggests that the discourse on sustainable soil health management is characterised by a contradiction between advocates of excessive chemical fertiliser products and proponents of agroecology, which merges traditional agricultural practices with contemporary scientific innovations to strengthen soil biodiversity and resilience. Knowledge levels of local farmers about climate change within Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria require thorough assessment to develop efficient adaptive measures. The research investigates how Ife South LGA farmers understand climate change by evaluating their awareness and analysing factors influencing their adaptive strategies.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted in Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria. Agriculture serves as the primary economic support in the rural areas of these communities. This study focused primarily on the Aye-Amodo, Olode, Mefoworade, Omifunfun, and Oke-Owena/Gbengbeleku villages. The study area was selected because its farmers heavily depended on climate-sensitive agricultural practices and climate change affected their farming operations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis research design leveraged mixed methods to explore climate change awareness within farmer populations. To obtain a thorough understanding of the research topic this approach employed both quantitative methods and qualitative approaches.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStandardised questionnaires served as data collection tools to evaluate farmers' understanding of climate change concepts alongside their environmental perception. The assessment contained visual resources as well as graphical displays that depicted changing rainfall patterns and temperatures besides closed and open-ended survey question formats. Visual aids were added to the materials to help respondents with low literacy skills understand the subject better.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlso, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodologies was utilised including seasonal calendars and trend analysis to collect qualitative data. The traditional seasonal calendars delivered farmers a method to monitor both the climate patterns and crop production cycles during the different periods. Participating farmers applied trend analysis to track environmental patterns and agricultural differences across time. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted targeting specific farmers to understand their climate change perception and agricultural operation vulnerability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor the sampling, a systematic method of choosing survey participants was adopted through multiple stages of sampling. The selection of five rural areas including Aye-Amodo, Olode, Mefoworade, Omifunfun, and Oke-Owena/Gbengbeleku was deliberate based on their agricultural importance and exposure to climate change risks. The survey as well as Participatory Rural Appraisal sessions included randomly selected farmers from every village.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study sample consisted of 300 farmers from Ife South LGA, Nigeria, providing a robust representation of the local farming community. In addition to the 300 farmers, 30 key informant interviews were conducted to gather more in-depth qualitative insights. This mixed-method approach combined quantitative data from farmers with qualitative insights from key informants to better understand climate change awareness, adaption tactics, and agricultural community concerns.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor data analysis, IBM SPSS v.24 was used to process the questionnaire data to create quantitative results. Descriptive statistics delivered data through frequencies and percentages to summarise findings yet inferential statistics explored natural connections and patterns between farmers' climate change perceptions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study used NVivo software for analysing thematic patterns within the qualitative data obtained from PRA tools and interviews. Transcribed responses underwent an analytical process that identified classification areas depicting farmers' climate change perceptions along with their lifecycle experiences and adaptive practises. Qualitative findings received additional validation through comparisons with quantitative data results in this research.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll research practises followed ethical principles by getting subjects' consent before gathering data. All participants received guaranteed data confidentiality and had the freedom to withdraw from the study at any time with no adverse effects.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study examined climate change awareness among 300 farmers in Ife South LGA, Nigeria, concentrating on demographic trends, comprehension of climate concepts, perceived environmental alterations, adaption strategies, and determinants of awareness. The collected quantitative data showed a high level of awareness regarding climate change amounted to 75% while farmers acknowledged both rising temperatures affecting 85% of them and irregular rainfall patterns affecting 80% of them. A quarter of respondents reported zero adaptation implementations among their adaptive actions. Inputs from qualitative data analysis revealed self-identified factors (deforestation) as well as institutional barriers (insufficient government support) that contributed to the situation. Analysis revealed important associations between schooling levels and agricultural background coupled with climate understanding based on the provided table information.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDemographic Characteristics of Respondents (n = 300)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategory\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGender\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge Group\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18–30 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31–45 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46–60 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt; 60 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEducation Level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo Formal Education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimary Education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary Education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary Education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFarming Experience\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt; 5 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5–15 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e135\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt; 15 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e shows that male participants comprised 60% while people in their 31–45 age range amounted to 40% of respondents. Responses showed different educational backgrounds because primary education level equalled 35% whereas 30% of respondents lacked any formal schooling. The farmers demonstrated substantial agricultural expertise based on their 85% participation rate at minimum five years into farming with 45% attaining 5–15 years and 40% exceeding 15 years. Respondents demonstrate strong practical agricultural expertise yet their low formal educational attainment likely affects how they understand and utilize climate change information. Climate variability adaptation and responsive measures faced by this group might be affected by sociodemographic factors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAwareness of Climate Change Concepts (n = 300)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResponse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeard of \"Climate Change\"\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e225\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSource of Awareness\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRadio/TV\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e135\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgricultural NGOs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.0*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCommunity Meetings\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.3*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePersonal Experience\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.7*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRecognize Local Changes\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTemperature Rise\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e210\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eErratic Rainfall\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e240\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReduced Crop Yield\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e195\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccording to Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e radio/TV served as the main information source for farmers who exhibited climate change awareness at a level of 75%. Agricultural Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (20%) together with community gatherings (13.3%) helped spread awareness but at a reduced rate. People who noticed environmental modifications reported erratic rainfall by 80% along with temperature increases by 70% and decreased crop production by 65%. The data reveals harmonization with farmer-reported observations of climate-modified weather patterns (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). The data shows that 25% of respondents did not know about climate change despite ongoing outreach attempts that limit farmers' ability to build resilience and adapt to changes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers’ Observations of Environmental Changes (n = 300)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eObserved Change\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncreased Temperature\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e255\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDelayed Onset of Rainy Season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e240\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReduced Rainfall Amount\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e225\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncreased Pest/Disease Incidence\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrying of Local Water Sources\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e165\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnalysis in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e shows that 85% of farmers documented higher temperature readings and 80% reported delayed rainy seasons. The survey data showed that 75% of farmers faced reduced rainfall with 60% reporting higher pest and disease occurrences and 55% noting drying conditions of local water resources. The data shows direct alignment with qualitative reports which link deforestation to temperature increases (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e) while underscoring the necessity for immediate adaptive solutions (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). These widespread observations validate farmers' direct encounters with climate variability thereby underscoring the need for improved climate education and support systems for building agricultural resilience and sustainability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdaptation Strategies Adopted by Farmers (n = 300)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdaptation Strategy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCrop Diversification\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUse of Drought-Resistant Crops\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSoil Conservation Practices\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIrrigation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo Adaptive Measures\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e indicates that 50% of farmers chose crop diversification and 40% selected drought-resistant crops as adaptation strategies. The data reveals that 30% of farmers practiced soil conservation but irrigation received implementation from only 20% of respondents. The data reveals that a quarter of farmers did not take any adaptive steps to cope with climate change. Quantitative data indicates that farmers fail to use irrigation which matches qualitative reports showing financial difficulties (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e). Consequently, resource scarcity impedes adaptive measures. Targeted interventions which combine financial support with climate-smart agricultural training should be implemented because they help farmers adapt to climate change while protecting agricultural productivity levels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelationship Between Demographic Factors, Climate Awareness, and Adaptation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eχ² Value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003edf\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConclusion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAwareness vs. Education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSignificant association\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAwareness vs. Age Group\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.101\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo significant association\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAwareness vs. Gender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.245\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo significant association\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdaptation vs. Farming Exp.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSignificant association\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation level demonstrates a significant relationship with climate awareness (χ² = 18.75, p = 0.001) according to Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e along with farming experience showing a connection to adaptation strategies (χ² = 12.60, p = 0.002). This result reveals that farmers who have pursued education gain a better understanding of climate change because they receive improved access to information and analytical capabilities. Farmers who have spent more years farming demonstrate a stronger propensity to use adaptation strategies probably because they directly encounter climate variability. The associations between awareness of climate change and both age (χ² = 6.24, p = 0.101) and gender (χ² = 1.35, p = 0.245) did not reach statistical significance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThematic Analysis of Perceived Causes and Impacts of Climate Change\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Theme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExample Quote\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived Causes of CC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDeforestation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Our forests are gone; the heat is unbearable now.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDivine Intervention\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“God is angry with our actions.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImpact on Livelihoods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCrop Failure\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Cassava yields have dropped by half in 10 years.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinancial Loss\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“I now borrow money to buy seeds.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFood Insecurity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“We can no longer grow enough to feed our families.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmotional Impact\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStress and Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“I worry about how to survive the next season.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHopelessness\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“There’s no future in farming anymore.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA thematic investigation of farmers’ perspectives regarding climate change origins and effects appears in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. Studies have shown that deforestation (40%) ranked as the top reported cause followed by respondents who linked tree loss to higher temperatures. Also, 30% minority held the belief that climate change was a result of divine interference manifested through spiritual environmental degradation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurthermore, livelihoods suffer greatly from the combination of failed crops affecting 60% of farmers and 50% experiencing monetary losses. A significant number of farming households face food scarcity issues (40%) which shows the immediate necessity for implementing adaptive measures. High levels of anxiety and stress and feelings of hopelessness can be found across 30% and 20% of respondents which indicate strong emotional harm that makes it difficult for people to undertake proactive adaptation measures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab7\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 7\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThematic Analysis of Adaptation Strategies and Challenges\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Theme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExample Quote\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAdaptation Strategies\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCrop Diversification\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“I now plant cassava and maize instead of just yam.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUse of Drought-Resistant Crops\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“I switched to crops that need less water.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSoil Conservation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“I use mulch to keep the soil moist.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAdaptation Challenges\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLack of Government Support\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“No one teaches us new farming methods.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh Cost of Irrigation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Fuel for water pumps is too expensive.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimited Access to Information\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“We don’t know where to get better seeds.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCommunity Coping Mechanisms\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCooperative Farming\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“We pool resources to buy fertilizers.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndigenous Knowledge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“We rely on traditional weather signs.”\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e reveals farmers' methods for adapting to changes along with their encountered obstacles and community-based coping approaches. Crop diversification was identified by 15 participants as the most commonly used adaptation technique in line with Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e which showed 50% farmer adoption. Farmers across the study areas have employed drought-resistant crops and soil conservation practices in their efforts to manage climate variability (a total of 21 mentions).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, significant barriers persist. The 15 mentions of high irrigation costs reinforce the limited adoption of irrigation technology (20%) shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e because of financial obstacles. The effective adaptation process remains restricted by insufficient government help (180 mentions) and restricted availability of information (12 mentions).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhile facing obstacles farmers sometimes collaborate through cooperative agriculture (90 mentions) and utilize traditional local wisdom (6 mentions) yet these methods alone cannot sustain long-term sustainable practices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab8\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 8\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTriangulation of Qualitative and Quantitative Findings\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQualitative Theme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQuantitative Finding\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlignment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterpretation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived Causes: Deforestation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85% report temperature rise (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers link deforestation to rising temperatures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImpact: Crop Failure\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65% report reduced crop yield (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQualitative quotes confirm quantitative observations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAdaptation: Crop Diversification\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50% adopt diversification (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers’ strategies align with reported practices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChallenge: High Irrigation Costs\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20% use irrigation (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinancial barriers limit irrigation adoption.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmotional Impact: Stress\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot directly measured quantitatively\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePartial\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStress is inferred from adaptation challenges.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e demonstrates that qualitative and quantitative data points align strongly to show how farmers understand climate change phenomena. The observed link between deforestation and climate change stands strong because 85% of respondents detected rising temperatures (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). The observed connection between deforestation and elevated temperatures has led farmers to recognize why tree-planting programs represent an essential solution.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe effects of climate change on agricultural production stand as documented facts in both qualitative and quantitative data collections. The qualitative reports from farmers about crop failure match the quantitative results which showed that 65% of respondents experienced crop yield reductions (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Crop diversification adoption at 50% in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e shows agreement with qualitative responses which demonstrate farmers are actively responding to environmental changes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, significant challenges hinder adaptation. The cost of irrigation creates a major obstacle for farmers since Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e shows only 20% of farmers use irrigation. The high cost of water pump fuel received as an oral complaint from farmers confirms economic barriers as one of the principal hurdles of adaptation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe emotional consequences of climate change show a mixed level of agreement between qualitative and quantitative findings. The quantitative study did not measure anxiety or stress as findings yet these issues emerged prominently from participant interviews. Research into adaptation challenges indicates that farmers face both financial problems and food scarcity which reveals the mental strain of climate change.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study examined how farmers understand climate change while analysing their adopted practices and environmental response obstacles. The research showed that numerous farmers realise climate change exists and detects its consequences but adaptation efforts face hurdles because of fiscal restrictions together with insufficient public assistance and psychological concerns. Both the study findings and previous studies demonstrate similar patterns but additionally show essential weaknesses related to farmers' climate change education and adapted resource availability along with the mental burden of climate unpredictability.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFarmers' Awareness of Climate Change and Information Sources\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe research study discovered that 75% of surveyed farmers knew about climate change and mainly received their information through television and radio programmes. According to Fahad and Wang (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) as well as Hyland et al. (2016) radio serves an essential role by spreading climate-related information to rural communities through mass media platforms. Farmers in multiple developing areas turn to mass media as their primary platform to receive climate updates and agricultural advice according to Quiroga et al. (2015). The one-way nature of radio and television broadcasts helps generate awareness but restricts farmers from actively analysing the information sent to them.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, studies outcomes showed that agricultural NGOs transmitted climate change information to only 20% of farmers with community gatherings reaching a much smaller segment at 13.3%. Contrary to Sarkar \u0026amp; Padaria (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e) and Ricart et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) who showed that when NGOs demonstrate high involvement rural areas experience improved climate literacy levels. The study shows that both agricultural NGO outreach and community meeting attendance are insufficient among farmers in this region. Local educational programmes focusing on climate awareness must develop interactive approaches to knowledge sharing since passive learning by consumption of information has proven ineffectual.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA significant knowledge gap was also identified, as 25% of surveyed farmers did not understand the term \"climate change.\" The results indicate that although farmers hear climate-related information often it does not ensure a consistent understanding level. The areas which had low climate education accessibility experienced particularly high negative impacts and these locations reaffirmed the need to distribute climate information to all farming communities. Sarkar \u0026amp; Padaria (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e) determined that areas which receive government or NGO-led climate education initiatives show higher levels of climate awareness (2015).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFarmers' Observations of Climate Change Impacts\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study participants from farming households documented multiple significant changes in their surrounding areas. Farmers most often noticed unpredictable rainfall patterns at an 80% rate along with temperature increases at 70% and crop yield reduction at 65%. Studies from Madhuri \u0026amp; Sharma (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) along with Hyland et al. (2016) have already established erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures as the main indicators of climate change in agricultural regions. Farmers show their capacity to identify environmental transformations based on which their views about climate change match scientific evidence thus validating their real-life experiences as useful climate intelligence (Mustafa et al., 2019; Ado et al., 2019).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough the study, researchers confirmed that 85% of farmers experienced temperature rises 80% experienced delayed rainy seasons and 75% observed reduced rainfall patterns. Smallholder farmers experience disruptions in their operations because season consistency fails to remain stable due to climate change (Hyland et al., 2016; Ado et al., 2019).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority of farmers reported that crop diseases from insects had elevated since 60% of them observed this change and 55% experienced difficulty accessing water resources. The slowdown of rainy season initiation presents farmers with major difficulties because it disrupts their traditional agricultural planning procedures.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, Mustafa et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) verified how climate change affects both pest populations' movement and water supply conditions worsening in the process. Legitimate access to water presents itself as a severe problem since unrestricted irrigation entails greater agricultural hurdles in areas without developed irrigation systems. Several research studies by Paudel et al. (2020) and Ibrahim et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e) point out that water scarcity stands as the major challenge farmers face during climate adaptation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eAdaptation Strategies and Their Limitations\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority of farmers integrated two main adaptation strategies to confront climate change including crop diversification at 50% whereas drought-resistant crops usage reached 40%. The findings match the research conducted by Mustafa et al. (2019) and Ricart et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) about how diversification with drought-resistant crops serves as common climate adaptation practises. Nepalese farmers commonly modify their agricultural practices to handle changing rainfall distribution according to Paudel et al. (2020). Various countries worldwide focus on drought-resistant crop distribution because drought events become more frequent (Fahad \u0026amp; Wang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Sarkar \u0026amp; Padaria, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrop diversification establishes climate protection but simultaneously brings new operational difficulties to the farming environment. The addition of multiple agricultural crops makes it difficult for farmers to concentrate on lucrative plant species therefore reducing their potential revenue. The implementation of drought-resistant crops requires more affordable seeds and accessible enhanced crop varieties since they boost water efficiency.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe farmers adopted two primary adaptation approaches composed of soil conservation methods which they used at a rate of 30% alongside irrigation methods implemented by 20% of the farmers. Research has confirmed that irrigation adoption rates stay low because the expansion of irrigation faces monetary and infrastructure challenges (Onyeneke et al., 2017). Research evidence revealed that high fuel prices for irrigation pumps stood as farmers' most significant obstacle to using irrigation techniques because 15% reported financial issues. The findings support Ricart et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) and Mustafa et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) who established cost barriers as well as insufficient government support as main obstacles to irrigation adoption.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe survey results indicated that a quarter of farmers did not adopt any climate adaptation practices. Many farmers do not take any climate adaptation actions since they face financing problems and lack sufficient awareness about climate change and its extensive effects. Ricart et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) established that farmers who lack connections to extension services together with agricultural networks demonstrate lower tendencies to implement adaptation strategies because they lack essential information about proper practices.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePsychological and Socioeconomic Barriers to Adaptation\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study data showed that climate change created anxiety and stress which affected 30% of farmers as well as 20% who demonstrated hopelessness regarding their farming future. Evidence indicates that climate change causes both agricultural production decline and emotional strain which affects farmers. Multiple research studies (Harmer \u0026amp; Rahman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e; Ado et al., 2019) confirm the discovery that climate uncertainty causes farmers to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety and develop decision paralysis.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental stress caused by climate change encourages farmers to consider their efforts at adaptation as useless. Harmer \u0026amp; Rahman (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) demonstrate that uncertainty about the future causes farmers to avoid making proactive planning investments since they feel that their efforts will not bring positive results. According to Mustafa et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e), stress creates obstacles in developing proper decision-making abilities which stops farmers from performing essential adaptation planning.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eCommunity-Based Resilience and Policy Implications\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFarmer communities used cooperative farming practices in conjunction with knowledge-sharing networks as adaptation strategies. Group strategies that address climate issues through collaborative projects gain strength from these initiatives but such projects face geographical and social boundaries which constrain their effectiveness. Community-based strategies require continuous external support with sustained resource allotment to sustain their effectiveness throughout time according to Ricart et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). These initiatives experience difficulties in confronting all climate challenges of farmers because they lack formal policy support.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eResearch showed that high irrigation system costs together with insufficient support from the government and limited agricultural information access form the main obstacles to climate adaptation. The study confirms previous research conducted by Soubry et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) and Mustafa et al. (2019) which detected financial limitations together with institutional resistance as significant barriers toward rural adaptation to climate change. Governments in developing nations prevent their farmers from adapting through their lack of action according to research by Akhtar et al (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) and Below et al (2015).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe current obstacles require receiving specialised policy approaches. The government should build public irrigation programmes alongside inexpensive agricultural financing and extend information services to create climate awareness. Financial inclusion proves essential for building climate resilience so microfinance programmes should serve smallholder farmers according to Akhtar et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) and Below et al. (2015).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study explored farmers’ understanding of climate change and their ability to recognize its effects through firsthand observations. The study showed that farmers had basic knowledge about climate change based on personal experiences instead of learning through formal programs from extension services. The key climate change indicators making themselves apparent to farmers included changing rainfall patterns alongside higher temperatures and diminished agricultural outputs. Because of these indicators, farmers started implementing several adaptation techniques through various choices of crops soil protection measures and different planting varieties. The farmers faced major barriers in adapting to climate change because they lacked enough funds poor irrigation facilities and limited support from the government. The study revealed that climate change brings substantial psychological consequences as farmers develop considerable stress and worry about sustaining their way of living.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe investigation had valuable conclusions but restricted itself through its small research sample size because it could not portray all experiences in agricultural communities. Since the analysis depends on farmers' personal reports it becomes possible that their subjective views of climate change do not match objective scientific measurements. The research should expand its sample size across several geographic regions to better understand climate adaptation in agricultural practices.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough there are acknowledged limits to this study its findings present valuable policy recommendations. The agricultural extension services need immediate improvement to deliver accurate climate information to all farmers on time. Government and NGO organisations need to extend their support by offering financial programmes along with funding irrigation infrastructure and climate adaptation education. Support programmes which focus on climate change-related psychological impacts must be integrated into communities to boost farming resilience by creating more stress-free environments that promote proactive adaptation methods.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture research needs to evaluate the sustained success of adaptation methods while exploring traditional wisdom for strengthening resilience against climate change. Moving research across multiple geographic regions will help develop an all-inclusive method for agricultural climate adaptation. Policymakers together with stakeholders need to fill these knowledge gaps because it will help them develop specific interventions which support farmers through climate change challenges.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\"This study was approved by the Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Agriculture of Ife South Local Government, Osun State 9th of September 2024 and 10th of September 2024 respectively. All participants provided informed consent before their involvement in the study, and the research was conducted following ethical guidelines set forth by the committee.\"\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbraham TW, Fonta WM (2018) Climate change and financing adaptation by farmers in northern Nigeria. 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Atmospheric Clim Sci 13(1):19\u0026ndash;43. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.4236/acs.2023.131003\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.4236/acs.2023.131003\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Obafemi Awolowo University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"climate change, crop diversification, traditional knowledge, climate resilience, policy development, climate adaptation, climate variability, climate impacts.","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5934985/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5934985/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study examines climate change awareness among farmers in Ife South Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, focusing on their understanding of climate concepts, observed environmental changes, and adaptation strategies. Data was gathered using 300 structured surveys, 30 in-depth interviews, and 30 Participatory Rural Appraisal tools. SPSS was utilised for quantitative analysis, whereas NVivo was employed for qualitative thematic analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRadio and television constituted 60% of farmers' primary sources of climate change information, with 75% of participants acknowledging awareness of it. Environmental indicators revealed warming (85%), sporadic rainfall (80%), and diminished agricultural output (65%). Farmers employed crop diversification (50%) and drought-resistant crops (40%), while 25% took no action.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study found high irrigation maintenance costs and little government assistance. Thematic analysis identified deforestation as a key cause of climate change and psychological stress and pessimism as prevalent responses. Qualitative and quantitative data points matched across crop failure patterns and adaption barriers. The farmers comprehend the necessities of climate change, although their adaptability is constrained by resource limitations and institutional obstacles. Experience in farming and schooling correlated with heightened awareness and adaptive abilities (p\u0026lt;0.01). Studies indicate that farmers need cost-effective irrigation techniques, education on climate change, and governmental assistance to enhance their resilience. Policymakers and development practitioners may utilise the study's pragmatic recommendations to assist rural agricultural communities in adapting to climate change.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Understanding Climate Change Awareness Among Farmers of Ife South Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-02-03 04:18:14","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5934985/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a66dc125-be3b-437c-8fec-83d50bfb0ed9","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 3rd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":43663217,"name":"Physical Geography"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-02-03T04:18:14+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-02-03 04:18:14","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5934985","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5934985","identity":"rs-5934985","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}