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Climate Variability and Rural Livelihood Security : Impacts and Implications

Popoola, Kehinde Olayinka ; Jerneck, Anne LU and Ajayi, Sunday Adesola (2021) p.423-436
Abstract

In a typical Nigerian village, the majority of the population comprises old people who are mostly economically unproductive due to reduced or loss of physical strength brought about by ageing and ill health. Many of these rural old people still work, and do so outside the formal sector, and are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate variability and change. Few studies have reported on climate change and the rural aged and there is a research gap as regards rural elderly peoples’ perception of climate variability impact on them. Since little is known about their perception of climate variability impacts and implications on the rural aged especially in relation to their livelihood activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, this chapter... (More)

In a typical Nigerian village, the majority of the population comprises old people who are mostly economically unproductive due to reduced or loss of physical strength brought about by ageing and ill health. Many of these rural old people still work, and do so outside the formal sector, and are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate variability and change. Few studies have reported on climate change and the rural aged and there is a research gap as regards rural elderly peoples’ perception of climate variability impact on them. Since little is known about their perception of climate variability impacts and implications on the rural aged especially in relation to their livelihood activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, this chapter therefore examined the impact of climate variability on the livelihood security of the rural aged in different ecological zones of Nigeria. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with four aged and four aged women selected purposively in each rural community and analyzed using Content Analysis Method. Quantitative data were obtained through structured questionnaire administered to an aged male and an aged female population available in selected houses (the aged are people 60 years and over in age) in selected rural communities in selected ecological zones of Nigeria. Where there was no combination of the two (aged men and aged women), either of the two was also sufficient. It was discovered that the ageds’ experiences of climate variability impact relate to the prevailing climate variability characteristic of each ecological zones. The impact on their livelihood in these zones is seen in terms of livestock death, lack of pastures for herds, scarcity of water, pest invasion, delayed planting crop failure, need for irrigation, water logging, drowning of small animals, human and animal illness. This means that planning decisions related to climate change issues should take cognizance of the views of the aged populations especially of those residing in rural areas as they are the most affected by the impact.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Climate variability, Ecological zones, Livelihood security, Rural aged
host publication
African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation : With 610 Figures and 361 Tables - With 610 Figures and 361 Tables
pages
14 pages
publisher
Springer International Publishing
external identifiers
  • scopus:85151197352
ISBN
9783030451059
9783030451066
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-45106-6_200
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7abc4f25-4cb3-41de-a286-f90264298808
date added to LUP
2023-05-30 10:13:07
date last changed
2024-03-22 21:14:15
@inbook{7abc4f25-4cb3-41de-a286-f90264298808,
  abstract     = {{<p>In a typical Nigerian village, the majority of the population comprises old people who are mostly economically unproductive due to reduced or loss of physical strength brought about by ageing and ill health. Many of these rural old people still work, and do so outside the formal sector, and are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate variability and change. Few studies have reported on climate change and the rural aged and there is a research gap as regards rural elderly peoples’ perception of climate variability impact on them. Since little is known about their perception of climate variability impacts and implications on the rural aged especially in relation to their livelihood activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, this chapter therefore examined the impact of climate variability on the livelihood security of the rural aged in different ecological zones of Nigeria. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with four aged and four aged women selected purposively in each rural community and analyzed using Content Analysis Method. Quantitative data were obtained through structured questionnaire administered to an aged male and an aged female population available in selected houses (the aged are people 60 years and over in age) in selected rural communities in selected ecological zones of Nigeria. Where there was no combination of the two (aged men and aged women), either of the two was also sufficient. It was discovered that the ageds’ experiences of climate variability impact relate to the prevailing climate variability characteristic of each ecological zones. The impact on their livelihood in these zones is seen in terms of livestock death, lack of pastures for herds, scarcity of water, pest invasion, delayed planting crop failure, need for irrigation, water logging, drowning of small animals, human and animal illness. This means that planning decisions related to climate change issues should take cognizance of the views of the aged populations especially of those residing in rural areas as they are the most affected by the impact.</p>}},
  author       = {{Popoola, Kehinde Olayinka and Jerneck, Anne and Ajayi, Sunday Adesola}},
  booktitle    = {{African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation : With 610 Figures and 361 Tables}},
  isbn         = {{9783030451059}},
  keywords     = {{Climate variability; Ecological zones; Livelihood security; Rural aged}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{423--436}},
  publisher    = {{Springer International Publishing}},
  title        = {{Climate Variability and Rural Livelihood Security : Impacts and Implications}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45106-6_200}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-030-45106-6_200}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}