Social Media Used by Arable Crop Farmers for Communicating Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined social media use by arable crop farmers for climate change adaptation communication in Imo State, Nigeria.  Multistage sampling was used to collect data with the aid of structured questionnaire from 285 randomly selected arable crop farmers in the study area. Results showed that arable crop farmers use social media to seek knowledge about climate change (𝑥̅=2.71), disseminate information to friends (𝑥̅=2.67), and seek climate change adaptation strategies (𝑥̅=2.59) and post-climate change adaptation strategies to farmer groups (𝑥̅=2.72). However, the proportion of arable crop farmers’ use of social media types was low. Sex, educational level and age influenced utilization of social media for climate change adaptation communication. Farmers should be encouraged to raise concern, make posts and engage in discussions on social media so as to attract and raise awareness of issues of concern among them, other stakeholders and the public. Government (ADP, Ministry of Agriculture), international organizations (FAO and CTA) and non-governmental organizations should organize training on use of smart phones, social media and information andcommunication technologies for farmers, and farmer groups. Keywords: crop farmers, social media, climate change, adaptation strategies