Behavioral Response of Bee Farmers to Climate Change in South East, Nigeria

Authors: Jude A. Mbanasor, Chigozirim N. Onwusiribe

Abstract:

The enigma climate change is no longer an illusion but a reality. In the recent years, the Nigeria climate has changed and the changes are shown by the changing patterns of rainfall, the sunshine, increasing level carbon and nitrous emission as well as deforestation. This study analyzed the behavioural response of bee keepers to variations in the climate and the adaptation techniques developed in response to the climate variation. Beekeeping is a viable economic activity for the alleviation of poverty as the products include honey, wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, venom, queens, bees and their larvae and are all marketable. The study adopted the multistage sampling technique to select 120 beekeepers from the five states of Southeast Nigeria. Well-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were adopted to collect the required data. Statistical tools like the Principal component analysis, data envelopment models, graphs, and charts were used for the data analysis. Changing patterns of rainfall and sunshine with the increasing rate of deforestation had a negative effect on the habitat of the bees. The bee keepers have adopted the Kenya Top bar and Langstroth hives and they establish the bee hives on fallow farmland close to the cultivated communal farms with more flowering crops.

Keywords: Climate, smart, smallholder, farmer, socioeconomic, response.

References:

[1] E. Ahikiriza, (2016). Beekeeping as an Alternative Source of Livelihood in Uganda. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering. University of Gent.
[2] C. C. Akpoke, Egwu, S. O. and E. Echiegu. (2010). Effects of Traditional and Sustainable Beekeeping Technology on Honey, Bees and Humans in Nigeria. https://www.apimondia.com/symposia/2010/bulgaria/EFFECTS%20OF%20TRADITIONAL%20AND%20SUSTAINABLE%20BEEKEEPING%20TECHNOLOGY%20ON%20HONEY,%20BEES%20AND%20HUMAN%20IN%20NIGERIA%20-%20Akpoke%20C%20C.pdf
[3] O.E. Ayinde, M. Muchie, O.A. Omotesho, and M.O. Adewumi, (2010). Multi-Risk Model of Small-Scale Agricultural Entrepreneurs in Central of Part of Nigeria. Globelics Conference, November 1-3, Kuala, Malaysia
[4] B.A. Babcock, N.M. Chaherli, and P.G. Lakshminariayam. (1995). Programme Prticipation and Farm-Level Adoption of Conservation Tillage: Estimates from a Multinomial Logit Model. Working paper 95-WP 136, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
[5] A. Bayaga. (2010). Multinomial Regression: Usage and Application in Risk Analysis. Journal of Applied Quantitative Methods. Vol. 5, No.2.
[6] J. Gowland-Mwangi. (2012). Agricultural Extension Strategies for Effective Mitigation against the Effects of Climate Change. Proceedings, 17th Annual National Conference AESON (11 – 14 March, 2012) http://aesonnigeria.org/aeson_papers/AESON_CONFERENCE_PROCEEDING_2012.pdf
[7] T. Halil and Y.T. Ferda. (2010). The Analysis of Factors Affecting Investment Choices of Households in Turkey with Multinomial Logit Model. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics ISSN 1450-2887 Issue 40 (2010) © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2010 http://www.eurojournals.com/finance.htm
[8] Mapcarta (2017). South east, Nigeria. https://mapcarta.com/Southeast_Nigeria
[9] B. Melaku, M. Girmay, and G. Bereket. (2013). Identifying beekeepers’ adaptation strategies in response to climate change in Tigray, Ethiopia. Wudpecker Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 2(5), pp. 155 - 159, May 2013
[10] R. N. Mgbenka, E. M. Igbokwe, and E N. Mbah, (2015). Farmers’ Perception of Agricultural Development Activities of Local Government Councils in Southeast, Nigeria. International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences (IJRSAS)1(2):19-25
[11] NIMET. (2014) 2015 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction. http://www.nimet.gov.ng/publication/2015-seasonal-rainfall-prediction
[12] C. Nwajiuba, and R. Onyeneke, (2010). Effects of Climate on the Agriculture of Sub- Saharan Africa: Lessons from Southeast Rainforest zone of Nigeria. A Paper Presented at the Oxford Business and Economics Conference Program, U.K
[13] B.C. Okoye, C.E. Onyenweaku, and O.O. Ukoha (2010). An Ordered Probit Analysis of Transaction Cost and Market Participation by Small-Holder Cassava Farmers in Southeastern Nigeria. Nigerian Agricultural Journal Vol.41 No. 2 October, 2010
[14] J.M.E Pennings, and P. Garcia, (2001). Measuring Producers’ Risk Preferences: A global Risk Attitude Construct. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 83(4), 993-1009
[15] A. E Usoro, and I. U. Moffot, (2015). Principal Component Analysis of Nigeria Value of Major Imports. American Journal of Economics 5(5): 508-512