International Journal of Weed Science and Technology ISSN 4825-3499 Vol. 1 (5), pp. 031-039, May, 2017. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Socio-economic factors of vulnerability to climate change in rural communities

*Dinaw Tulu Defar, Selamawi Mideksa Tessema and Baruch Aweke

Département de la Sociologie et d’Economie Rurale, Faculté d’Agronomie et de l’Environnement, Université  Dan Dankoulodo de Maradi, Maradi, Niger.

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 13 April, 2017

Abstract

In Niger, climate change affects the majority of the population, especially the rural communities. The present study intends to contribute to the understanding of the actual perception of climate changes by the population along with the degree of apprehensiveness of the population regarding the climatic manifestations described by scientists. To this end, two communities have been targeted in the Department of Dakoro. The data from the study were mainly obtained by collecting quantitative and qualitative information on the community perception of the impacts of climate change and variability. The results of this scientific contribution demonstrate once again the link between the experiences of producers and scientific evidence. Thus, perceptions of the phenomenon of climate change are very diverse and vary according to the communities and their level of vulnerability. The impacts listed include drought, rainfall deficit, rising temperatures and decreasing soil fertility. The rainfall deficit associated with the decline in soil fertility and the resurgence of crop pests weakens the agricultural sector. The livestock system is highly vulnerable to recurring forage deficit, drought, and degradation of grazing areas and, above all, animal theft, which reflects the increased poverty in the area. Further research on the characterization of adaptation strategies to the impacts experienced by producers will be appropriate.

Key words: Vulnerability, climate change, agro-pastoral, Dakoro.