The use of indigenous Knowledge Forecasting in Climate Adaptation by farmers and pastoralists in the Northern Taraba state, Nigeria

This study examined the use of indigenous Knowledge Forecasting in climate Adaptation by arable farmers and pastoralists in Northern Taraba, Nigeria.Based on a survey design, data was collected from both arable farmers and pastoralists.The 2006 Taraba state population census report put the number of farming households in the state at 288,000.Using the Rao soft sample size calculator, a statistically acceptable sample size for this population of households at a 98.4% confidence level and margin of error of 1.6% (~ 0.01% level of significance) was 580.The figure, 580, was then divided into the 3 senatorial zones that make up Taraba state, it became 193.3 per zone but 194 was used in the study.On the other hand, the total population of the pastoralists in Northern Taraba was given as 20,541.Also, showed that a statistically acceptable sample size for this population of households at a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 5% (0.05% level of significance) was 378.However, after a series of attempts to get the attention of the pastoralists to fill out the questionnaire proved abortive, the attention of the state Miyetti Allah office was sought.Therefore, the sample size for the pastoralist was recomputed using a 66% confidence level on which gave a new sample size of 91.After the post-field data cleaning, the researchers found only 79 of the copies of the returned research instrument usable for analysis.Therefore, in all, 285 copies of the questionnaire were taken to the field for administration to both the arable farmers and pastoralists.At the end of the fieldwork which took place between June -October 2022 and data cleaning, 259 (Arable farmers 180, Pastoralist 79) copies of the research questionnaire were used for the analysis.The study shows that 76.9% and 23.2% were male and female, respectively.The high percentage of the male gender proved that men are more into farming and pastoralism than women in studying the area.The result revealed that the majority of the respondents 219 (84.6%) are married against 26 (10%) of the singles in the study area.Furthermore, the sources of the knowledge of these indicators, which was translated or handed over to the farmers by learning and observation from their elders (83.1%) and ancestors (16.9%).The study found that IEI is widely used by farmers and pastoralists to predict the onset and cessation of rainfall.The most common IEI used include plant phenology, animal behavior, and