Assessment of Low Carbon Emissions Practices of Animal Farmers in Akwa Ibom State

ABSTRACT This study assessed the level of low carbon emissions practices by livestock farmers in Akwa Ibom State. It examined the demographic characteristics of livestock farmers in Akwa Ibom State, their awareness levels with respect to low carbon emission practices, extent of utilization of low carbon emission practices in livestock farming as well as benefits and challenges of utilization of low carbon emissions practice. The target population of the study were livestock farmers from Akwa Ibom state. 50 respondents were used as the sample size for the study. Multi stage sampling was used to select only livestock farmers in the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State. Primary sources. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Objective 1 and 4 was analyzed using Percentage and frequency table while objective 3, 4 and 5 was analyzed using mean score analysis. The hypothesis was tested using person product moment correlation. The result showed that 48% of respondents were men while 52% were women. 12% of respondents have no formal education, 26% only went to primary schools, 32% went to secondary school, 12% did adult literacy programs while only 18% have tertiary education The result shows that most of the respondents have secondary school education. On the average annual income, 26% earned between N100,000 to N199,000 yearly, 46% earned between 200,000-299,000 yearly, 20% earned between 300,000- 399,000 and 8% for 400,000 upwards. This shows that the average livestock farmers earns about 300,000 - 500,000 yearly. Using a discriminating index of M≥2.0, where mean responses of 2.0 and above are taken as having high knowledge/awareness and mean below 2,0 as having low knowledge/awareness. The result shows that 9 items have mean responses below 2.0. This indicates that respondents' knowledge level of livestock farmers in Akwa Ibom state towards low carbon emissions practices is still very low. Using a discriminating index of M 2.0, where mean responses of 2.0 and above are taken as being utilized and mean below 2,0 as having low utilization. The cumulative mean is 2.04. This indicates that livestock farmers in Akwa Ibom state have a moderate level of utilization low carbon emissions practices. The hypothesis indicates there is no significant relationship between the awareness and level of utilization of low carbon emissions practices by livestock farmers in Akwa Ibom State. The research concludes that the level of knowledge of livestock farmers on low carbon emission practice is low. However, the there is an observed low carbon emission practice by them. The study concludes that the practice of low carbon emission by livestock farmers is not rooted in scientific knowledge, but culture, contexts and economic reasons. The challenges faced by livestock farmers are mostly the knowledge and the technology needed to adopt low carbon emission practice for rearing of livestock. The study recommends that the State and other relevant government agencies should come up with a framework/policy for adoption of low carbon emission practice among livestock farmers in the State and the Nation at large. The support services offered by the government through its extension services should be strengthened to help the livestock farmers adopt low carbon emission practice.