Climate Change, Effects and Adaptation Strategies; Implication for Agricultural Extension System in Nigeria

Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges this generation faces. African countries, Nigeria inclusive are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their dependence on rain fed agriculture, high levels of poverty, low levels of human and physical capital, inequitable land distribution and poor infrastructure. Generally climate change is already affecting agricultural activities with the most devastating adverse effects in Nigeria as: extreme weather condition, frequent drought ,increased environmental damage, increased infestation of crops by pests and diseases, depletion of household assets, increased biodiversity loss, depletion of wildlife and other natural resource base, changes in the vegetation type, decline in forest resources, decline in soil conditions, increased health risks and the spread of infectious diseases changing livelihood systems.. These conditions emanating from climate change are bound to militate against agricultural production (crop, livestock forest and fishery resources), nutritional and health statuses and the general livelihood activity of the people. Therefore building up resilience and developing adaptation strategies becomes very important if agricultural production in the country will experience any boost. This paper concludes that the agricultural Extension system in the country need to generally revisit its role and in particular the role of the Extension agents. This is very important since the challenge of climate change if neglected will surely render the effort of increasing food production through the dissemination of technical information fruitless.