Assessing Climate Change Effects On Plastic Product Use By Agro-Marketers And Horticultural Enterprises In Calabar Agricultural Zone
Okonemeka Chimaobi Grace
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Etim Gabriel Sunday
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Abstract
This study assessed the impact of climate change on the use of plastic products among agro-marketers and horticultural enterprises in the Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 200 respondents using a structured questionnaire, with a multistage sampling technique employed for selection. Findings indicate that climate change has influenced the socio-economic characteristics of respondents by increasing labor requirements (mean = 2.7), enhancing membership in professional and cooperative organizations (mean = 2.53), and improving awareness of plastic and climate change issues (mean = 2.47). At the enterprise level, climate change affected operations through increased payment of carbon emission taxes (mean = 2.94), higher costs of packaged goods due to restrictive plastic policies (mean = 2.92), and elevated release of harmful chemicals from plastic waste under higher temperatures (mean = 2.75). The study recommends enhancing climate change awareness among agro-marketers and horticulturists to mitigate adverse impacts on plastic-packaged products. Additionally, government agencies should monitor plastic production to minimize or eliminate hazardous chemicals that are susceptible to climate-induced degradation, thereby preserving product quality.