Full Length Research Paper
Effects of climate change on
labour use efficiency in
Southeast, Nigeria
I. U. O Nwaiwu, D. O.
Ohajianya, J. S. Orebiyi and
U. C. Ibekwe
Abstract
The cataclysmic consequences
of climate change on the
existence of man, the flora
and fauna on earth have been
burning in the hearts of
scientist and policy makers
all over the world. This
study as one of the myriads
of efforts being made to
understand and provide
solutions on the menace is
tailored to identifying the
trends in climate change and
the effects on labour use
efficiency in southeast
Nigeria. Multistage sampling
technique was used to select
a total of 312 cassava based
food crop farmers found in
the study location. Data
were collected from both
secondary and primary
sources with the use of
structured and validated
questionnaire/interview
schedule and by direct
observation using cost route
approach. Data were analysed
with the use of descriptive
statistical tools like mean,
frequencies, percentages and
frequency polygon or line
graphs as appropriate. Also
ordinary least square (OLS)
multiple regression
analytical tools and partial
labour productivity as index
of efficiency were used.
Results show that climate
element like temperature
presents a statistically
significant increasing trend
with a trend coefficient of
1.192 and a mean of 26.7°C.
Rainfall volume also shows
an increasing trend but not
statistically significant.
Number of rain-days shows a
statistically significant
decreasing trend with a
trend coefficient of -6.717
and mean of 141.8
days/annum. Furthermore, the
result showed that climate
indicators like Sunshine
duration (Hss), Excessive
heat or temperature (Eh),
frequency or incidence of
flooding (Fd) and frequency
of dry spell (Ds) are
statistically significant
and inversely related to
labour use efficiency. It
was concluded that the
climate is indeed changing
and negatively affecting
labour use efficiency which
reduces agricultural
productivity, and hence
slowing the scope for
reducing hunger and poverty
in Nigeria. The government
and all stakeholders should
synergise to provide
appropriate adaptive and
mitigation strategies to
ameliorate the present and
potential effects of climate
change.
Key words: Cataclysmic,
climate change, multistage,
regression, efficiency,
mitigation, adaptation,
productivity and labour.
[Full-Text PDF]
[TOC]
