Influence of Socio-Economic Characteristics of Oil Palm Farmers on Access to Climate Change Information in Delta State, Nigeria

V. E. Ogbe; A. O. Ehigie; M. N. Iyekekpolor; O. G. Orumwense

doi:10.58709/niujcjg.v12i1.2490

V. E. Ogbe College of Education, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria
A. O. Ehigie University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
M. N. Iyekekpolor University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
O. G. Orumwense Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Nigeria.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58709/niujcjg.v12i1.2490

Abstract

This study examined the influence of socio-economic characteristics of oil palm farmers on access to climate change information in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected using cross-sectional survey data from 165 respondents selected through appropriate sampling procedures. The study was conducted with the objectives of describing the socio-economic characteristics of oil palm farmers and identifying their awareness, access to, and preference for various sources of climate change information. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The socio-economic profile of the respondents revealed that a substantial proportion of farmers were within the middle-aged category, with a mean age of 45.45 years, and majority (91.5%) were married. Females constituted 52.1% of the respondents, indicating strong female participation in oil palm farming. In terms of education, 47.3% had secondary school education, while only 10.3% had no formal education. The respondents had an average household size of 6.67 persons, mean farming experience of 14.40 years, and mean oil palm farming experience of 18.52 years. The average farm size was 5.56 hectares, and a majority were members of farmer associations. Findings on climate change information revealed that awareness levels were generally high, with extension agents, the internet, radio, and mobile phones ranking prominently in awareness and preference. However, actual access to formal institutional sources such as meteorological agencies and scientific journals remained low. Informal sources including fellow farmers, family members, friends, and neighbours played a dominant role in information dissemination. The study concluded that while oil palm farmers in Delta State demonstrate moderate awareness and diverse information access channels, reliance on informal networks persists due to limited institutional outreach. It is therefore recommended that extension services be strengthened, digital and mobile-based advisory platforms be expanded, and socio-economic factors such as education, gender, and association membership be strategically leveraged to improve equitable access to timely and reliable climate change information among oil palm farmers in Delta State.

Keywords: Oil palm, Climate change, Delta State, Access, Information