Perceived Impact of Climate Change on Economic Activities in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Abstract:

The study assessed household perception of climate change on economic activities in Ughelli north local government area of Delta State. Systematic sampling technique was employed to administer 291 copies of structured questionnaire to households in the area. Data obtained from the administered questionnaire were analyzed using simple percentages, tables, and principal components analysis (PCA). Results obtained showed households in the area were knowledgeable of climate change. The study revealed that households perceived the impacts of climate change to include increased temperature (55%), decreased rainfall (22.7%), and decreased in rainfall duration (12.4%). The study further identified households’ perceived changes in economic activities to include decreasing working hours engaged in economic activities, decreased in food crop farming/fish farming, drastic changes in principal sources of income and livelihood, changes in crop yields and productivity and changes in availability of fodder and non-timber forest product (NTFPs) as well as decrease in workforce productivity. PCA result identified the use of herbicide/insecticide/, burning of fossil fuel and deforestation, gas flaring and bush burning as main anthropogenic factors responsible for 80.2% of climate change phenomena in the area. Based on the findings, the study recommended that government should encourage soft loans to farmers and fish farmers. This will ensure the steady supply of food thereby increasing households’ source of livelihood and nutrition.