Abstract

The study examined the perception of pastoralists towards climate change and variability. Data were collected via structured questionnaire administered to 200 pastoralists randomly selected from twelve communities in the study area. Trend analysis of temporal changes in rainfall and temperature covering a period of eighteen years (2000 - 2018) was conducted and compared with pastoralists’ perception of climate variability. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the data obtained from the survey using a 5-point Likert Rating Scale. The results showed that 56% of the respondents perceived an increase in temperature and 46% observed a decrease in rainfall volume and a change in the timing of rains. Poor performance of animals and physical growth (24%) as well as reduction in forage yield (40%) were identified as major consequences of climate change. The pastoralists identified deforestation, overgrazing of farmlands and act of God as the causes of climate change. The pastoralists responded to these changes through increased nomadism, improvement of fodder production and preservation, boring of more wells and livelihoods diversification. Their local intelligence and indigenous knowledge also come to play in dealing with these environmental challenges. It is apparent that the pastoralists have a role to play on issues of climate change. Therefore, designing feasible adaptation programmes such as advanced pasture preservation practices, enhanced water harvesting development, monitoring, dissemination, and publishing of climate data periodically would enhance the adaptive capacity of pastoralists to the negative impact of climate change in the study area.

Keywords: Adaptation; Agriculture; Climate; Pastoral; Perception

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