RESUMEN
Consolidating on farmers’ agro-ecological knowledge to design environmental-friendly agricultural systems is crucial given the environmental impact of commercial agriculture. The study aimed at assessing the awareness level of the respondents on biodiversity conservation, their biodiversity conservation information source(s), respondents’ information seeking behaviour and their perception towards biodiversity conservation. A survey was conducted on 120 respondents using simple random sampling procedure. Data collected were analysed using frequency distributions, and composite index analytical technique. Findings revealed that all of the respondents had average to high level of awareness of biodiversity conservation practices. Findings also revealed that the information on biodiversity conservation were mostly gotten from friends/neighbors, other farmers, radio/television and internet/electronic mails. The respondents had very positive or favourable perception of biodiversity conservation but biodiversity conservation information seeking behaviour of the respondents was not quite high. Six (6) independent variables contributed a multiple correlation influence (R= 0.606) on the respondents’ perception on biodiversity conservation. However, awareness of biodiversity conservation (b = 0.598, t = 6.882, P = 0.000) was found to significantly and statistically influence the respondents’ perception on biodiversity conservation. These findings are crucial for policy orientations, research and development to efficiently support the implementation of more environmental-friendly farming systems in the study area.
RESUMEN
The Paper assessed self-efficacy of secondary school agricultural science towards climate-friendly farming. It specifically examined the influence that attitude towards climate-friendly farming, knowledge of climate change and ownership of household farms could have on the climate-friendly farming self-efficacy of the respondents. Correlation analysis, chi-square, percentages and composite index technique were applied to a set of primary data collected from 200 randomly sampled agricultural science students in 4 randomly selected schools in Uyo, AKS. Findings revealed that 52% of the respondents have high climate-friendly farming self-efficacy. The respondents had a positive attitudinal disposition towards climate-friendly farming. Most (48.5%) of the respondents had low knowledge of climate change. There is a need for stakeholders to translate the high climate-friendly farming self-efficacy observed among the respondents into climate-smart farming through a conscious effort at increasing their participation in practical farming activities both in school and home farms. There is a need to include climate change issues in secondary school curriculum to raise the knowledge level of the agricultural students on climate change. Students, upon the acquisition of this knowledge and skills, would help in the extension of innovative and efficient farming methods to their households and communities thereby complementing government efforts in the extension of modern and acceptable practices in farming.