CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1 1 Background to the Study.

Climate change has become a global issue in recent times manifesting in variations of different

climate parameters including cloud cover, precipitation, temperature ranges, sea levels and

vapour pressure (Ministry of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MoEFRN) 2003).

The variations in climate parameters affect different sectors of the economy such as agriculture,

health, water resources, energy etc. The main cause of climate change has been attributed to

anthropogenic (human) activities. For example, the increased industrialization in the developed

nations has led to the introduction of large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs), including

carbon (IV) oxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere.

Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as

a result of human activity (Nnaji, 2012). It refers to a change in climate which is attributed

directly or indirectly to human activities, that alters the composition of the global atmosphere

and which is in addition to natural variability observed over comparable time periods

(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007). There are various responses to

global climate change one of this is mitigation.Mitigation refers to intervention or policies to

reduce the emissions or enhance the absorption of greenhouse gases (Sari Kovats in Women and

Children Development Initiative (WACDI), 2011). Because of the speed at which change is

happening due to global temperature rise, it is urgent that the vulnerability of developing

countries to climate change impacts is reduced while their capacity to mitigate is increased and

national mitigation plans are implemented (UNFCCC, 2007 in WACDI, 2011). Mitigation

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options for ecosystems include control of deforestation, improved rangeland management,

expansion of protected areas and sustainable management of forests (WACDI, 2011). Mitigation

options for hydrology and water resources include water harvesting, management of water flow

from dams and more efficient water usage.

Agriculture has huge and diverse opportunities potentials that can not only transform the national

economy but also tremendously impact the personal lives of the farmers particularly the youth.

Ovwigho and Ifie (2009) posited that Nigeria youths have the potentials to promote agriculture

but most of them are not interested in agricultural activities due to adverse effects of climate

change on productivites. As climate change threatens to disrupt agricultural productivity through

unpredictable weather patterns, youth agripreneurs can lead in making the agricultural sector

more resilient. By adopting climate-smart agriculture practices, they help ensure food security

and livelihoods for communities. Youth agri prenuers’ level of awareness seems to be on

increase regarding their experiences in change and length of seasons, incidence of environmental

hazards such as flood, droughts, and crop failures, long term shift in wind speed, change in

sunlight intensity and uncertainty of rain etc. (Morghadiya and Smarden, 2011). These are

among the common indicators of climate change well known to youth agripreneur.

The youth agri preneurs whose livelihoods depend on the use of natural resources, are likely to

bear the brunt of adverse impacts of climate change. Implementing climate change mitigation

strategies often leads to the development of new markets and the creation of green jobs. Youth

agripreneurs, by embracing these strategies, can drive economic growth and provide employment

opportunities within their communities, particularly in rural areas. This makes the need for youth

agri prenuers to utilize different strategies in order to mitigate the climate change and make it

very imperative for optimum output. Mitigation strategies to climate change have to do with

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living with climate change, for example agroforestry, conservation agriculture, inter-cropping,

biodiversity and collection of rainwater for agricultural use referred to as rainwater harvesting.

By engaging in climate-smart agricultural practices, youth agripreneurs not only contribute to

immediate mitigation and adaptation efforts but also lay the groundwork for a sustainable legacy.

Their initiatives can serve as models for future generations, ensuring the long-term viability of

the agricultural sector and the environment. In this light, this study intends to investigate the

climate change mitigation strategies utilized by youth agriprenuer in Ile- Oluji Oke- Igbo Local

Government area of Ondo State. This is hoped to give a better understanding of how the youth

agriprenuers' strategize to relief climate changes and their mitigation methods thereby sustaining

Nigeria’s position in agribusiness among other countries in the tropics.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Climate change mitigation is increasingly becoming an area of growing interest and engagement

for many developing countries that unfortunately bear the brunt of an overheating planet caused

by developed countries. The uncertain effects of a changing climate on Nigeria’s economy pose

significant setbacks for meeting development targets like Nigeria’s aspiration to be among the

twenty best performing economies of the world and achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals (Stanley, 2012).Chinguwo and Blewit (2012) have noted that economic

recession, financial crisis and climate change problems all work together to make life more

difficult for many people and their families. This is especially applicable to youth agripreneur as

their livelihood depends more on rain-fed agriculture which is heavily affected by the climate

change via irregular rainfall, hotter weather, flooding and induced pests and diseases making

them to run into losses.

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1.3 Research Questions

1. What are the social economic characteristics of agric preneur in the study area?

2. What are their knowledge of climate change in farming?

3. What are the climate change mitigation strategies adopted ?

4. What are the constraint faced in the adoption of climate change mitigation strategies?

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to investigate climate change mitigation strategies utilized by youth

agriprenuers' in Ile- Oluji Oke- Igbo Local Government area of Ondo State, and the specific

objectives are to;

i. describe the social economic characteristics of youth agric preneur in the study area.

ii. examine there knowledge of climate change in farming

iii. Identify climate change mitigation strategies adopted

iv. identify the constraint faced in the adoption of climate change mitigation strategies

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H01 : There is significant difference between social economic characteristics of the respondents

and climate change mitigation strategies adopted in the study area.

1.6 Singnificance of the Study

Climate change mitigation strategies are important to youth agripreneurs because they help

protect agricultural land and ensure sustainable food production in the face of changing climate

conditions. By implementing mitigation strategies, youth can reduce greenhouse gas emissions

from agricultural activities, such as livestock production and fertilizer use, which contribute to

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global warming. Additionally, these strategies can help youth utilize to climate change impacts,

such as shifting weather patterns, extreme weather events, and changes in pest and disease

pressure. Utilizing climate change mitigation strategies can help youth agriprenuer maintain

productivity, protect natural resources, and build resilience to future climate challenges. The

involvement of youth agripreneurs in climate change mitigation signifies a proactive approach

toward building a sustainable agricultural sector that is resilient, innovative, and economically

vibrant. Their role is crucial in transitioning to more sustainable food systems and ultimately in

achieving broader environmental and developmental goals.

CHAPTER THREE

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 MATERIAL AND METHODO

3.1 Description of the Study Area

The study will be carry out in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The

local government is made up of five major town namely Ile-oluji, Oke-Igbo, Bamikemo, Iyere

and Lipanu. It is in the western part of Ondo state and is bounded in the East by the Ondo and

Ifedore Local Government Areas and in the West by Osun state. The land mass is estimatedto be

500sqkm. The local government area is within the tropical rainforest but with luxuriant

vegetation. It experiences high humidity and rainfall of about 1500 inches throughout the year.

The inhabitants of the area are predominately Yoruba speaking people. They also speak their

various dialects. Other inhabitants include the Hausas, Ebiras, Igbos, Urhobos, Ijaws and many

others. The land is predominantly loamy soil which enhances large scale agricultural production

of cash crops such as cocoa, oil palm and kola nutswhile other commercial crops grown in the

area include cassava, maize, plantain, banana and fruits. Agro-allied industries such as sawmills,

garri processing factory, weaving centre for traditionally-woven wears (aso-ofi) and dye stuff

industries also thrive well in the area. The people of the area are mostly farmers and traders who

engage in buying and selling of various agricultural products,

3.2 Population of the Study

The target population for this study will comprises of Youth Agriprenuers in Ile- Oluji/ Oke-Igbo

Local Government area of Ondo State.

3.3. Sampling Techniques

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Multi-stage sampling technique will be use for the study. The first stage involved purposive

selection of two wards from the total of ten wards, that is, 20% of the total ward. The second

stage involved purposive sampling of six agribusiness from each ward and the third stage

involved random selection of youth involve in agriprenuer to give the total of one hundred and

twenty (120) respondents as the sample size.

3.4 Source of Data Collection

Data will be collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary source are

questionnaires, interviews and direct observation, the questionnaire will be administer to youth

agrprenuers in the area. The secondary sources are textbook, journals, newspapers, magazine and

government publications, previous research project

3.5 Method of Data Collections

Interview schedule will be used to obtain information from the youth agriprenuers. The interview

schedule consists of information on socio- economic characteristics such as age, sex, marital

status, religion, farming and agriprenuer experiences in the study area.

3.6 Validation/Reliability Test

The instrument will be conduct through face validating during the interview on related

knowledge services, the instrument will subjected through face interview. Reliability will be

tested using test-test method by giving to respondent.

3.7 Measurement of Variables

The important variable in the study on which the objectives will be base include:

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Independent Variable

The independent variable consist of selected socio-economic characteristics (Age sex, marital

status, family size, level of education and years of experience) constraint faced in the climate

change mitigation.

Socio-economic characteristics

Sex of respondent: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate their gender: Male=1,Female=2

Age of respondent: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate their actual age in years.

Marital status: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate the ir marital status: Single=1,

Married=2, Divorced=3, Widowed=4.

Religion of respondent: youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate their religion they practice.

Educational status of respondents: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate their level of

Education: no formal education=1, primary=2, secondary=3,tertiary=4

Membership of organization: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate if they are member of

an organization: No=1, Yes=2.

Work Experience: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to indicate their work experience in years.

Average income: The youth agriprenuer will be ask to their average income per years.

Independent Variable:

The climate change mitigation strategies utilize by the respondent in the study area.

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The climate change mitigation strategies adopted: The respondents will be ask to select base on

these scale, SA(5), A(4), U(3), D(2) SD(1).

The constraint faced in the climate change mitigation strategies: The respondents will ask to

indicate from these options, Serious constraint, Minor Constraint, and Not a constraint.

3.8 Method of Data Analysis

The general questions will be answer with the descriptive statistic susing frequency counts and

percentages. The hypotheses will be tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and

multiple regression analysis and will be tested at0.05 level of significance.

REFERENCES

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007). Climate Change 2007: Climate Change

Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

Ministry of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2003). Nigeria’s First National

Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Abuja,

Nigeria

Morghadiya, R., and Smarden, R. S. (2011). Farmers’ Perception of Risk, Impacts and Adaptation

to Climate Change. Perspectives from Western India Dinesh: College of Environmental Science and

Forestry.

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Nnaji, C. E. (2012). Effects of Climate Change on Household Water Sources in Benue State,

Nigeria. An M.SC. Project thesis submitted in the Department of Agricultural Extension, University

of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Women and Children Development Initiative (WACDI), (2011). Gender Dimensions and

Indigenous Knowledge for Adaptation to Climate Change in South East Nigeria. A Research Report.

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