Community Awareness of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies Among Farming Households in Sokoto State

This study examines climate change awareness levels and existing adaptation strategies among smallholder farming households in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. Sokoto State lies in Nigeria's most drought-prone agro-ecological zone, and the farming communities that depend on rain-fed agriculture are experiencing increasingly variable rainfall, more frequent drought years, and rising temperatures that threaten food security. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 220 farming households across Dange-Shuni, Tambuwal, and Illela Local Government Areas. The questionnaire assessed farmers' perceptions of climate variability, their awareness of the concept of climate change, and the adaptation practices they currently employ or know about. Focus group discussions with six community groups elaborated on livelihood implications. Results show that 87 percent of respondents have observed changes in rainfall patterns over the past ten years, describing reduced rain, shorter rainy seasons, and increasingly unreliable planting dates. However, fewer than 30 percent associate these changes with global climate change as a concept. Adaptation strategies in use are predominantly traditional, including switching to shorter-duration crop varieties, adjusting planting dates, and fallowing larger areas. Formal adaptation support from government extension services has reached fewer than 15 percent of surveyed households. The study identifies a significant gap between local adaptive capacity and the scale of climatic stress being experienced. Recommendations include a climate-sensitive agricultural extension programme linking climate forecasting data to practical farm management advice tailored for Sokoto State conditions. Keywords: climate change awareness, adaptation, smallholder farming, Sokoto State, food security.