A study was carried out in communities around Itu bridge-head in Itu Local Government
Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to ascertain the pattern of
climate change and associated hazards in farming and fishing community in the study area
determine coping and adaptation strategies within agricultural sector. Both primary and
secondary data were used. Primary data were obtained using different Participatory Research
Approaches (PRA) including, in-depth interview, focus group discussions and household
questionnaires. In the community, a sample size of 30% of all households was interviewed.
Findings showed that farmers and fishermen perceived changes in rainfall and temperature.
The changes have affected the livelihood of farmers and fishermen in a number of ways
resulting in reduced productivity. Trend analysis of rainfall showed decreasing amount from
1979 to 2010, whereas temperature and relative humidity showed increasing trend from 1979
to 2010 by respectively. The study revealed that communities around Itu Bridge-head in Itu
Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are highly vulnerable to climate variability.
Climate related hazards make natural resources of the area susceptible to climate- related
extreme events such as floods, salinity intrusion, severe wind storm, sea level rise and river
bank erosion. The livelihoods of the poor in the area are most likely to face higher levels of
vulnerability under climate change due lack of finance, credit facilities, education and
information. The study concluded that, knowledge on coping and adaptation that farmers and
fishermen have should form a foundation for designing agricultural innovation systems to
deal with impacts of climate change and variability.