Environmental Changes in Borno State, Nigeria: Implication for Farming Population, Livelihood and Resilience

Abstract

This research examines the issue of climate change in northern Nigeria and the Sahel as a whole, examining its impact on livelihoods and resilience on the farming community. Using a conceptual framework for resilience adopted from DFID: Disaster Resilience Framework, secondary data was analyzed to identify major causes of the environmental changes in Borno State, role of the environment and natural capitals in livelihood and resilience as well as the impact, nature and causes of these changes on the environment. Various research on the Sahel have acknowledged how the increase and effects of climate change in the region, mostly tends to affect agriculture and farmers, who are the most vulnerable and still remain the main source of food for the Nation. The study explores and analyses major contributing factors such as Land degradation and insecurity as critical elements influencing the vulnerability and resilience of farmer communities in the Sahel. The ensuing result of this environmental disorder, has led to an increase in the cost of farm produce, which mostly underscores the insufficiency in crop yield and increases in pest and weed attacks, forcing many farmers around the Sahel to explore alternative sources of livelihood. In as much as human activity appears to be the fundamental problem driving Borno State to desertification and degradation, the components of the livelihood assets have demonstrated needs to engage capitals as a vital factor to bolster livelihood, resources, capacity (Dorward et al, 2001) as well as access, and the timely utilization of services and interventions, to lessen vulnerability and strengthen resilience.