DATA PRESENTATION AND RESULTS ON GROWING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN ITU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE

DATA PRESENTATION AND RESULTS

          This chapter presents the data analysis and results of the study. A total of five hundred (500) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents. The researcher was able to retrieve all the 500 copies of questionnaires and it was correctly filled by the respondents, which are the copies used in the analysis below:

          The results are presented in the frequency and percentage tables below;

4.1     Data Analysis and Result

Research Question One

          How does climate change affect the socio economic characteristics of the farmers?

Questionnaire items one to nine (1-9) was used in answering research question one (1). The number of respondents who responded strongly agree and agree were classified as agreed while those responded disagreed and strongly agreed is classified as disagreed. The result of the data analysis is showed on the table 4.1 below;

Table 1:      Effect of Climate Change on Socio-economic                                Characteristics of Farmers

S/N	ITEMS	TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS	FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS
			Agreed	%	Disagreed	%
1	Climate change increase farmers earnings	500	365	73%	135	27
2	Climate change bring about poverty among farmers	500	65	13%	435	27
3	Climate change effect illiterate farmers	500	313	62.6	187	37.4
4	Climate change affect the social life of the farmers	500	292	58.4	2008	41.6
5	Climate change affect the relevant information to farmers	500	165	33	335	67
6	Climate change brings about reduction in family size	500	55	11	445	89
7	Climate change make crops have stunted growth	500	445	89	55	11
8	Climate change affect the yield of crops	500	405	81	95	19
9	Climate change determine food quality	500

Source: Field survey 2014

          Table 1 above showed that out of five hundred (500) respondents, 365 representing 73% agreed that climate change increase farmers earnings while 135 respondents representing 27% disagreed. The analysis above shows that climate increase farmers income.

          Analysis on the second item shows that 65 respondents representing 13% agree that climate change bring about poverty among farmers while 435 respondents representing 87% disagreed. The result of analysis shows that climate change does not bring poverty among farmer.

          In the third analysis 313 respondents representing 62.6% agreed and 187 respondents representing 37.4% disagreed that climate change affect illiterate farmers. Hence, climate change does not affect illiterate farmers.

          Based on the forth analysis, climate change affect the social life of the farmers. 292 respondent representing 58.4% accepted the above analysis while 208 respondents representing 41.6% rejected it.

          In the fifth analysis, 165 respondent representing 33% accepted that climate change affect the relevant information to farmers while 335 representing 67% said climate change does not affect relevant information to farmers. From the analysis above, climate change does not affect relevant information to farmers.

          According to the sixth analysis 55 respondents represent 11% agreed that climate change bring about reduction in family size while 445 representing 89% disagreed.

          The seven analyses has it that 445 respondents representing 89% and 55 respondents representing 11% agreed and disagreed respectively that climate change make crops have stunted growth.

          In the eight analysis 405 representing 81% and 95 respondent representing 19% agreed and disagreed respectively that climate change affect the yield of crops. Base on the eight analysis, climate change affects yield.

          The nine analysis confirmed that climate change determine food quantity because 415 respondents representing 83% and 85 representing 17% agreed and disagreed respectively.

Research Question Two

What is the influence of climate change on growing cocoa?

          Question items ten-twenty (10-20) was used in answering research question two. The result of the data analysis is presented on table 4.2 below;

 

Table II:     Influence of Climate Change on Cocoa Production

S/N	ITEMS	TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS	FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS
			Agreed	%	Disagreed	%
10	Prolong high temperature causes reduction in cocoa production	500	361	72.2%	139	27.8%
11	Prolong wet season slow down drying and processing of cocoa seeds	500	365	73%	135	27
12	Sunshine help farmers in drying seed cocoa	500	463	92.6%	37	7.4%
13	Drought causes a shift in cocoa planting season	500	460	92%	40	8%
14	Climate change affect the yield	500	306	61.2%	194	38.8%
15	Drought encourage cocoa seed germination	500	105	21%	395	79%
16	Sun drying reduces the water content of cocoa seeds	500	305	61%	195	35%
17	Climate change causes low maturity of cocoa	500	325	65%	175	35%
18	Climate change causes low yield in cocoa	500	335	67%	165	33%
19	Mortality rate on cocoa seeding is encourage by drought	500	295	59%	205	41%
20	Black pod disease of cocoa are mostly destructive during wet season	500	455	91%	45	9%

    Source: Field survey 2014

         

          In table II above, it is observed that, out of 500 respondents 361 representing 72.2% agreed that prolong high temperature causes reduction in cocoa production while 139 representing 27.8% disagreed. Hence, analysis above showed that prolong high temperature causes reduction in cocoa production.

          The eleventh analysis has it that out of 500 respondents, 365 representing 73% agreed that prolong wet season slow down drying and processing of cocoa seeds and 135 representing 27% disagreed. Based on the above analysis prolong wet season slow down drying and processing of cocoa seeds.

          In the twelve analyses 463 representing 92.6% agreed while 37 respondents representing 7.4% disagreed that sunshine helps farmers in drying cocoa seeds. The analysis shows that sunshine help farmers in drying cocoa seeds.

          Based on the thirteenth analysis drought causes shift in planting of cocoa seeds, 460 respondents representing 92% accepted the analysis while 40 respondents representing 8% was against.

          The fourteenth analysis shows that climate change affect the yield of cocoa 306 respondents representing 61.2% agreed while 194 representing 38.8% disagreed with above analysis.

          In the fifteenth analysis, 105 representing 21% of the total respondents of 500 accepted that drought encourages cocoa seed germination while 395 representing 79% disagreed. The analysis above shows that drought does not encourage cocoa germination.

          The sixteenth analysis has it that sun drying reduces water contents of cocoa seed because 3005 respondents representing 61% agreed while 195 representing 39% disagreed.

          We observed in the seventeenth analysis that 325 respondents representing 65% agreed that climate change cause low maturity of cocoa while 175 representing 35% disagreed. The analysis above shows that climate change cause low maturity of cocoa.

          In eighteenth item analysis 335 respondents representing 67% accepted that climate change causes low yield in cocoa while 165 representing 33% of the total respondents disagreed. Based on the result of the analysis, low yield in cocoa is caused by climate change.

          The nineteenth analysis shows that mortality rate of cocoa seedling is encourage by drought 295 respondents representing 59% accept the above analysis and 205 representing 41% disagreed.

          The twentieth analysis has it that black pod diseases of cocoa are mostly destructive during wet season, because 455 respondents representing 91% agreed while 45 respondents representing 9% disagreed to the above analysis.

Research Question Three

          What is the influence of climate change on growing fluted pumpkin?

          Question items twenty one to twenty five (21-25) was used in answering research question three (3). The result of the data analysis is presented on table three below:

Table III: Influence of Climate Change on Growing Fluted                                      Pumpkin

S/N	ITEMS	TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS	FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS
			Agreed	%	Disagreed	%
21	Fluted pumpkin like much sunshine	500	156	31.2%	344	68.8%
22	Fluted pumpkin is planted by the start of rain	500	309	61.8%	191	38.2%
23	Climate change affect the yield of fluted pumpkin pod	500	355	71%	145	29%
24	Climate change causes low maturity of fluted pumpkin pod	500	400	80%	100	20%
25	Prolong dry season causes discolouration of fluted pumpkin leaves	500	305	61%	195	39%

Source: Field survey 2014

Table III shows that, out of 500 respondents 156 representing 31.2% agreed that fluted pumpkin like much sunshine while 344 representing 68.8% disagreed. Hence, the twenty-first analysis shows that fluted pumpkin does not like much sunshine.

          The twenty-second shows that 309 respondents representing 61.8% agreed while 191 representing 38.2% disagreed that fluted pumpkin seed is planted by the start of rain. The result shows that, fluted pumpkin is planted in the rainy season.

          According to the twenty-three analysis, 355 representing 71% agreed that climate change affect the yield of fluted pumpkin while 145 representing 29% of the total respondents disagreed. However, based on the above analysis, climate change affect the yield of fluted pumpkin.

          The twenty-four analysis, has it that climate change causes low maturity of fluted pumpkin pod because 400 respondents representing 80% agreed and 100 representing 20% of the total respondent disagreed.

          In the twenty-fifth analysis, 305 representing 61% of the total respondents agreed that prolong dry season causes the discolouration of fluted pumpkin leaves while 195 respondents representing 39% disagreed. The twenty-fifth analysis confirmed that climate change (prolong dry season) affect the colour of the fluted pumpkin leaves.

Research Question Four

How does climate change affect fish farming?

Question items twenty-six to thirty-two (26-32) was used in answering research question four. The result of the data analysis is presented on the table 4.4 below:

Table IV:   Influence of Climate Change on Fish Farming

S/N	ITEMS	TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS	FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS
			Agreed	%	Disagreed	%
26	Climate change does not affect fish farming	500	189	37.8%	311	62.2%
27	Increase sea level cause flooding and wave	500	485	97%	15	3%
28	Flooding disrupt fishing activities	500	465	93%	35	7%
29	Storm disrupt fishing activities	500	465	93%	35	7%
30	Windy season increase the rate of destruction of fish trap and boat	500	255	51%	245	49%
31	A rise water temperature result in increase  mortality rate of fishes	500	285	57%	215	43%
32	Seas storm causes increase in travelling cost to fishing ground	500	425	85%	75	15%

Source: Field survey 2014   

          In table 4 above, the twenty-six analysis has it that 189 representing 37.8% of the total respondents agreed that climate change does not affect fish farming while 311 representing 62.2% disagreed that climate change affect fish farming. Hence, the analysis above shows that climate changes affect fish farming.

          The twenty-seven analysis shows that increase in sea level cause flooding and wave, because 485 representing 97% of the total respondents agreed to the above analysis while 15 representing 3% of the total respondents disagreed.

          The twenty-eight shows that flooding disrupt fishing activities, 465 representing 93% accepted while 35 representing 7% was against.

          In the twenty-nine analysis 465 respondents representing 93% agreed that storm disrupt fishing activities while 35 respondents representing 7% disagreed. Hence, the result shows that storm disrupt fishing activities.

          According to the thirty analyses 255 respondents representing 51% of the total respondents agreed that windy season increase the rate of destruction of fish trap and boat while 245 representing 49% of the total respondent disagreed.

          In the thirty-one analysis, it is observed that a rise in water temperature result in increased mortality rate of fishing, because 285 representing 57% of the total respondents agreed while 215 representing 43% of the total respondent disagreed.

          Based on thirty-two analysis, sea storm cause increase travelling cost to fishing ground, because 425 respondents representing 85% accepted the above analysis while 75 representing 15% of the total respondent was against it.

Research question five

          What coping strategies were adopted by farmers in sustaining the different crops production patterns. Questionnaire items thirty-three to thirty-six (33-36) was used in answering research question five. The result of the data analysis is presented on table 4.5 below:

Table V:     Strategies Adopted in Sustaining Different Crop                                     Production

S/N	ITEMS	TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS	FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS
			Agreed	%	Disagreed	%
33	Using new and improved varieties maximize yield and resist diseases	500	461	92.2%	39	7.8%
34	Improved yield by using fertilizer and organic manure	500	375	75%	125	25%
35	Using herbicide and pesticide	500	325	65%	175	35%
36	Irrigation practice	500	290	58%	210	42%
37	Use of drought tolerant species	500	445	89%	55	11%

Source:       Field survey 2014    

          Table V shows that, the thirty-three analysis confirmed that using new and improved varieties designed to maximize yield and resist diseases is one of the strategies in sustaining different crops production patterns because 461 respondents representing 92.2% agreed while 39 representing 7.8% of the total respondents disagreed.

          The thirty-four analysis 375 representing 75% of the total respondents agreed while 125 representing 25% disagreed that applying fertilizer and organic manure to improve yield, is one of the strategy to sustain crop productions.

          In the thirty-five analysis, 325 respondent representing 65% agreed that using herbicides and pesticides are strategies adopted by farmers to sustain crop production while 175 representing 35% disagreed.

          In the thirty-six analysis, it can be observed that 290 representing 58% of the total respondents accepted that practicing irrigation is one of the strategy for sustaining crops production pattern while 210 representing 42% disagreed with the analysis.

          Analysis of the thirty-seven shows that using drought tolerant species is one of the strategy for sustaining crop production pattern. Because 445 respondents representing 89% agreed with the above analysis while 55 respondents representing 11% disagreed.

4.2     Summary of Results

The results or findings of the study are presented below:

1.     Climate change affects the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers.

2.     Climate change influences the growing of cocoa. For instance, climate change causes low yield in cocoa plant, low maturity of cocoa pod, mortality rate of cocoa seedlings, drying of cocoa seed etc.

3.     There is influence of climate change on growing fluted pumpkin. For instance, it affects yield of fluted pumpkin, it causes low maturity of fluted pumpkin pods, it causes discolouration of pumpkin leaves in the case of prolong dry season etc.

4.     Climate change affects fish farming. For instance, it disrupt fishing activities through flooding, storm, windy season, rising temperature etc.

5.     There are strategies adopted by farmers in sustaining the different crop production patterns. Example of the strategies are; using new and improved varieties, using fertilizer and organic manure, using herbicides and pesticides, practicing irrigation, use of drought tolerant species.