Given the role agricultural extension will play in sensitizing and educating
farmers on how to mitigate and adapt to climate change, the study was
carried out to ascertain the responsiveness of extension workers to
climate change. Fifty one extension workers proportionately selected from
the four agricultural zones in the state were used for the study. Data were
analyzed with percentage, mean score and factor analysis. All (100%) of
the respondents had heard about climate change. On average they heard
it in 2003 and noticed it in 2002.They sourced information on climate
change from fellow extension workers (77.8%) and newspapers (76.6%).
Only “giving reports with respect to climate or weather of the environment
(58.8%) was activity occurring/undertaken by extension workers with
respect to climate change. Prediction/ forecasting of weather (92.2%) was
area the extension workers mostly needed training on climate change.
Manpower development/training, institutional/linkage and staff incentive
problems were factors constraining responsiveness of extension workers
in Anambra state to climate change. The study recommends the need to
acquaint extension workers with knowledge on climate change and
climate related issues by including it in the programme of ADP. In this
way the extension workers especially front line extension agents can
educate and help farmers mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate
change for increased agricultural output.