INDIGENOUS CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AS PRACTICED BY FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN UDI LGA OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

The study is on the indigenous climate change adaptation practices among farm households in Udi Local Government Area; Enugu State. 60 respondents were randomly selected for the study. Primary data were collected using a set of well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, likert scale and inferential statistics. Result of the study showed that majority of the respondents (65%) was males and majority (51.7%) from household size of between 5 to 10 persons. About 55% of the respondents had at least Secondary school education and 93.3% engaged in farming as major occupation. 81.7% of the respondents have been in farming for more than five years (81.7%). The respondents·awareness on climate change includes impact of high temperature (76.6%), drying up of rivers/streams (63.3%), increased. Pest infestation (63.3%), increased disease infestation (51.7%) and poor quality of stored crops (58.3%). Indigenous negative adaptation practices practiced by the farmers were increased use of chemical fertilizers (63.3%), increased use of pesticides and insecticides (61.7%), cutting down of trees (66.7%), bush burning (71.7%). Continuous grazing (53.3%) while positive practices identified were rain water harvesting (60%), multiple or inter-cropping (65%), tree planting on farm lands (65%) and on-farm construction of ridges and gullies (60%). However, the constraints identified in adoption of these practices were poor access to credit (86.7%), lack of efficient input (83.3%), lack of awareness (78.3%), and lack 9f land (57.7%). The study therefore recommends sensitization on indigenous adaptation practices to distinguish between positive and negative approaches of adaptation; there is need for integration of fertilizer trees such as Faidherbia albida on farm lands for nutrient supply, erosion control and domestic use; more access to credit facilities; improved awareness creation by the relevant officers on all the impacts, and the needed adaptation practices to help curb the menace of climate change on agricultural lands and its effects on farmers' livelihoods.