CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of climate change on agricultural production in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted to ascertain the extent climate change influence agricultural sector performance in Bayelsa State. The population of this study consists of 3399 farmers in Bayelsa State. The sample size of 359 respondents were drawn from the entire population using Taro Yamen’s formula. The result from the study revealed that climate change to a very high extent influence crop production in Bayelsa State by 74%. Also, the result of the study showed that climate change to a high extent influence livestock production in Bayelsa State by 67.7%. Based on these findings, the study recommends among others that policy makers should adopt proactive and innovative approaches through the involvement of key stakeholders in order to substantially address the challenges of changing climate on crop and livestock production. Also, the Ministries of Environment at both State and Federal levels should ensure strict adherence to environmental laws to minimize the extent of environmental pollution to reduce the intensity of climate change and its associated negative implications on crop and livestock production.