SMALLHOLDER FARMERS' ACCESS TO CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION IN THE NIGER DELTA

The study examined the essentiality of the availability and access of climate information services (CIS) to root crop farmers in Niger Delta, Nigeria. The sample population consisted of four hundred (400) farmers from the three ecological regions of Delta State. Field surveys were conducted with the aid of questionnaire and local language translators. Data were presented in simple percentages. CIS channels available are both formal and informal. Results showed that CIS is highly unavailable in the study area. Root crop farmers lack adequate access to climate information and largely rely on indigenous knowledge in their farming activities. The study suggests government involvement in terms of upscaling the capacity of agricultural officers, providing farmers more access to internet and mobile applications, awareness campaigns, capacity-building initiatives and co-production of localspecific CIS. This should be accompanied by agrometeorological advisories to overcome these barriers to the access and use of CIS.