Abstract

Radio is a very important medium in creating awareness of issues. The extent to which radio stations in Abia
State, Nigeria are making farmers to be aware of climate change was examined in this study. The study majorly adopted the
survey research design. A total of 80 copies of questionnaire were administered: 25 to crop farmers in each of the three Senatorial
Zones of the state; and the remaining 5 to the 5 radio stations in the state. The questionnaire was divided into parts A and B: A for
the crop farmers; and B for the radio stations. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentage and Chi-square statistical
techniques. The results revealed that 78% of the farmers have low or no knowledge of climate change. Similar result was obtained
in the testing of hypothesis one, where H0 was rejected implying very low knowledge of climate change by the farmers. Only 2
radio stations out of 5 in the study area have programmes on agriculture where climate change issue has ever been discussed. With
regard to source of awareness of climate change, only 20% of the respondents got it though the radio while 52% got from personal
observation. H0 was accepted in the testing of hypothesis two, implying that climate change has adversely affected the yields of
crops in Abia State. The farmers are adapting to climate change by planting fast maturing varieties of crops; early or late planting
of crops; increasing mulching of crops to conserve moisture and reduce heat; and staking of crawling crops. It is therefore
concluded that food security in the study area is being threatened as very few crop farmers are aware of climate change. Radio
stations in the state that are without agricultural programmes where climate change is discussed should introduce one.