PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON POULTRY

PRODUCTION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES BY POULTRY

FARMERS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

BY

OCHIMA, Enayi Elizabeth

B. Agric. (Agricultural Economics)
(Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi)

Thesis submitted to the Department of Agricultural Economics,

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the award of Master of Science in Agricultural
Economics.

August, 2021

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 DECLARATION

I declare that the work described in this thesis is original, and has not been previously submitted
to any University or similar institutions for the award of any degree or certificate.

Name of Candidate:

Signature:

Date:

CERTIFICATION
ii
We the undersigned, hereby certify that this thesis presented by Ochima E.E. (17/10441/M.Sc)

be accepted as fulfilling part requirements for the award of Master of Science in Agricultural

Economics.

Title: Perceived Effects of Climate Change on Poultry Production and Adaptation

Strategies by Poultry Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria.

Supervisor Signature/Date

Co-Supervisor Signature/Date

Head of Department Signature/Date

Dean, Postgraduate School Signature/Date

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 DEDICATION

To the Almighty God.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

iv
The study got a lot of attention from different people without whom the work would not have

been successful. First and foremost, I give all thanks to Almighty God for His abundant grace

and wisdom throughout the period of this study.

I am very grateful and specifically indebted to my supervisors Dr Mrs Ezihe, J.A.C, and Dr Mrs

Iorlamen, T.R. for their humane supervision and untiring efforts. I also thank the Head of

Department, Dr (Mrs) G.C. Aye and the Dean of Agricultural Economics and Extension Dr Mrs

C.K. Biam for their immeasurable contribution towards the success of my work. I am grateful to

all my Lecturers for the inputs they have made to this work. I cherish as much their professional

help in the organization of this work, their patience, corrections and unhesitating readiness to

offer assistance at all times.

My sincere gratitude goes to my parents, Late Hon. Edwin Ogah Ochima and Mrs Angela Ogwa

Ochima, my siblings, Samuel Otte Ochima, Christian Agbo Ochima, John-Praise Ochima and

Gabriel Adadu Ochima for their encouragement and willingness to provide me with finance and

other materials I needed for this study.

I am grateful to the proprietress of Gifted and Talented Academy Mrs. Comfort Olowofeso for

her awesome encouragement, permission and contribution to this project. I am also grateful to

Dr. Dan Abah and Pastor Solomon Akileye for their encouragement and support.

I will remain ever grateful to my friends, Theresa Onyowo Adoga and Ogra Rachel and everyone

that contributed to making this work a success. Thank you very much.

TABLE OF CONTENT

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 CONTENTS PAGE

TITLE PAGE i

DECLARATION ii

CERTIFICATION iii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi-x

LIST OF TABLES xi

ABSTRACT xii

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background to the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 4

1.3 Research Questions 6

1.4 Objectives of the Study 7

1.5 Statement of Hypotheses 7

1.6 Significance of the Study 8

1.7 Scope of the study 8

1.8 Definition of Terms 9

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.1 Theoretical Framework 11

2.1.1 Adaptation Theory 11

2.1.2 Utility Theory 12

2.2 Conceptual Framework 13

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 2.3 Review of Related Empirical Studies 16

2.3.1 Concept of climatic change 16

2.3.2 Socio-economic characteristics of poultry farmers 17

2.3.3 Farmers perception on intensity of climate change 18

2.3.4 Climatic factors influencing poultry production. 19

2.3.5 Perceived effects of climate change 20

2.3.6 Climate change adaptation strategies 22

2.3.7 Factors influencing choice of adaptation strategies 23

2.3.8 Poultry production 24

2.3.9 Poultry housing 25

2.3.10 Feeding 26

2.3.11 Care and management 26

2.3.12 Marketing 27

2.3.13 Technical efficiency 27

2.4 Summary of Literature Reviewed 28

3.0 METHODOLOGY 29

3.1 Research Design 29

3.2 The Study Area 29

3.3 Population of the Study 30

3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques 30

3.5 Instrument of Data Collection 32

3.6 Validation of the Instrument 32

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 3.7 Reliability of the Instrument 32

3.8 Method of Data Collection 32

3.9 Variable Specification / Model Specification 33

3.9.1 Measurement of variables 33

3.9.2 Model specification 34

3.10 Data Analysis Technique 39

4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 40

4.1: Socio-Economic Characteristics of Poultry Farmers 40

4.1.1 Age 40
4.1.2 Sex 40

4.1.3 Marital status 40

4.1.4 Level of education 40

4.1.5 Household size 41

4.1.6 Farming experience 41

4.1.7 Farm labour 41

4.1.8 Extension contact 42

4.1.9 Non-farm employment 42

4.1.10 Access to credit 42

4.2 Perception of poultry farmers on intensity of climate change 44

4.3 Perceived effect of climate change on poultry production in the study area 46

4.4 Climate change adaptation strategies used by poultry farmers in the study area 49
4.5 Factors influencing the choice of adaptation strategies on poultry production 51
in Benue state

4.5.1 Age 51

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4.5.2 School years 51

4.5.3 Number of birds 52

4.5.4 Annual income 52

4.5.5 Amount of credit 52

4.5.6 Years of climate change awareness 53

4.6 Maximum likelihood estimates of parameters in the stochastic frontier

analysis for effects of climate change adaptation strategies on technical
efficiency of poultry production. 55

5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 59

5.1 Summary 59

5.2 Conclusion 61

5.3 Recommendations 61

5.4 Contributions to Knowledge 62

5.5 Limitations of the Study 62

5.6 Suggestions for Further Study areas 63

REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES

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Table No. Title Page

1 Sample size selection plan 31

2 Socio-Economic Characteristic of Poultry Farmers 43

3 Perception of Poultry Farmers on Intensity of Climate Change 45

4 Perceived Effect of Climate Change on Poultry Production in the Study Area 48

5 Adaptation Strategies of Poultry Farmers to Climate Change in the Study Area 50

6 Parameter Estimates of the Multinomial Logit (MNL) Analysis of Factors

Influencing the Choice of Adaptation Strategies in Poultry Production in
Benue State. 54

7 Maximum Likelihood Estimates of Parameters in the Stochastic Frontier

Analysis for Effects of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Technical
Efficiency of Poultry Production in Benue State 58

LIST OF FIGURES

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Figure No. Title Page

1 Conceptual Framework 15

ABSTRACT
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This study assessed the perceived effects of climate change on poultry production and adaptation
strategies adopted by poultry farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. The population of the study
consist of all poultry farmers in Benue State. A sample size of 198 was selected using multistage
sampling technique. Data for the study were collected from primary sources using a structured
questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies distribution,
percentages and mean as well as inferential statistics such as Multinomial logistic regression and
Stochastic frontier production function. The result showed that the average age of the
respondents was 34 years. The result also showed that majority (97.4 %) of farmers agreed they
were aware of climate change with 85.8 % of farmers having 6 years of awareness. Farmers
perceived intensity of climate change as very high temperature, excessive rainfall, drought,
irregular relative humidity, excessive sunshine and long period of harmattan. The study also
showed that farmers in the study area, perceived effects of climate change on poultry production
as very high increased disease infestation, very high death rate, reduced egg size, reduced growth
and reduced weight with all variables exceeding the cut-off mean of 2.0. The study revealed that
respondents (97.4 %) who are aware of climate change used adaptation strategies to cope with
climate change. The result on multinomial regression analysis showed that age positively
influenced the use of early maturing birds at 1 % level of significance. Schooling years
negatively influenced the use of better hygiene at 10 % level of significance. Number of birds
had a positive effect on the choice and use of installing cooling equipment and early maturing
birds at 1 % level of significance. Annual income, amount of credit, and years of climate change
awareness had positively influenced the choice of installing cooling equipment, early maturing
birds, prompt and extra vaccination and more space per bird at 1 %, 5 % and 10 % level of
significance. The result of the stochastic frontier analysis showing the climate change adaptation
strategies influencing inefficiency of poultry output showed that, raising of broods and sell, tree
planting around poultry house, more water served were found to reduce farmers’ technical
inefficiency of poultry output at 10 % level of significance. The study hence, revealed that
climate change adaptation strategies had significant relationship with technical inefficiency of
poultry production in the study area. Therefore, the study recommended the need to improve on
farmers’ access to information on climate change and appropriate adaptation strategies as well as
providing credit facilities to help improve farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change.

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