Actors’ decision -making process on scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovation in pig farming in Enugu North Senatorial District

The study examined the decision-making process in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovation in pig farming among input suppliers and Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) actors in Enugu North Senatorial District. The study aims to ascertain the evidence-based climate-resilience innovations employed by these actors in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovation, the factors influencing decision-making, the key actors involved, and the challenges. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure in selecting actors and employed purposive and random sampling methods. The findings highlight the significance of female representation, with women comprising 60% of MOA personnel and input suppliers. Notably, most respondents possess formal education, with 80.0% of extension personnel holding tertiary qualifications. Evidence-based climate-resilience innovations such as insulation, water management, efficient watering practices, and feed management strategies were widely implemented in pig farming. However, variations in adoption levels were observed across different innovations. The study identified vital decision-making drivers, emphasizing knowledge and skills availability, government policies, cost-effectiveness, and social acceptability. The study recommends collaborative efforts and coordination among key stakeholders, including agricultural program staff, state ministries of agriculture, pig farmers, and consumers, to streamline decision-making processes and enhance the scaling of climate-resilience innovations.


INTRODUCTION
Pig farming is an important agricultural activity, particularly in pork production, providing income and nutrition for individuals and countries worldwide.According

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Discovery Agriculture 10, e3da1546 (2024) 3 of 14 section three, an evaluation of the research findings and discussion.Finally, section four discussed the conclusion and recommendations.

Location
The study was conducted in Enugu North Senatorial District, Enugu State, Nigeria, between Latitude: 6.5260° N and Longitude: 7.5085°E.The senatorial district is one of the three (3) senatorial districts in Enugu State made up of six (6) local government areas of Igbo-Etiti, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Nsukka, Udenu and Uzo-Uwani.

Sampling Procedure
The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure.In stage one, out of the six local government areas (LGAs), namely (Igbo-Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu and Uzo-Uwani), two LGAs were purposively selected.For the input supplier, two popular markets were purposely selected from the two local governments due to the number of pig traders in the markets.These are the Orba and Ogige markets in Udenu and Nsukka LGAs, repetitively.A list of all the input suppliers was obtained from the chairman of the farm input trader from the needs.From the list, twelve (12) input suppliers were randomly selected from 17 input suppliers in the Orba market in Udenu LGA.In contrast, in the Ogige market in Nsukka LGA, twelve (12) input suppliers were randomly selected from a list of 21 input suppliers.The Ministry of Agriculture staff selection in each LGA involves getting the population of all the staff in each LGA.The Ministry of Agriculture in Nsukka LGA consists of 12 extension personnel, five (5) of whom were randomly selected.
Udenu, which falls under Igbo-Eze North, has 14 extension personnel, of which five (5) were chosen randomly.

Data Collection
The study employed a mixed research case study approach involving a survey, interviews with key actors and a review of relevant literature.A well-structured questionnaire was adopted to elicit information from the farmers based on the study's specific objectives.
However, the interview method was used to collect data from government officials such as the Ministry of Agriculture staff.

Method of Analysis
The data collected for this study was analyzed using the Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) IBM version.Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations, and the Likert scale were incorporated to provide the quantitative measures of actors' relationships and influence.

Socioeconomic characteristics of actors involved in the decision-making process in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations in pig production systems
Table 1 shows that the majority (60.0%) of the Ministry of Agriculture personnel are female, while (40.0%) are male.The same goes for most Input suppliers in the same There is a slight decline in numbers among those aged 46-50 at 12.5%, with the overall mean age being 42.17 years.The age of respondents is in line with the OECD (2023), which states that the working-age population is those aged 15 to 64.Furthermore, Table 1 reveals that the majority (90.0%) of MOA were married, 10.0% were widowed, and none were single or divorced.Also, Table 1 shows that a significant number of input suppliers (70.8%) were married, 20.8% were single, and 4.2% were widowed and divorced,

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Discovery Agriculture 10, e3da1546 (2024) 4 of 14 respectively, which aligns with the findings.In addition, Table 1 shows that the majority (80.0%) of Ministry of Agriculture personnel attained tertiary education, 20.0% had secondary education, and none had formal and primary education, respectively.The educational level of the input suppliers shows that the majority (58.3%) of the respondents had secondary school education, 33.3% had tertiary education, 8.3% had primary education, and none had formal education.This implies that a more significant proportion of the study's respondents had formal education.This would be a great advantage to disseminating climate-resilience innovation to pig farmers.
This agrees with who stated that education helps spur innovation and technology.Also, data in   Furthermore, all respondents (100%) have indicated advice on implementing efficient watering practices in their pig farming operations.Thus, efficient water management is essential for conservation, cost reduction, and maintaining the health of the pigs.Also, most respondents (90%) have advised adopting feed management techniques that consider climate variability to improve pig resilience.
The Ministry of Agriculture personnel are saddled with the responsibility of transferring technology and providing advisory services to rural farming households in many developing countries, including Nigeria (Olorunfemi et al., 2019).S.D=0.68), and Agribusinesses (M=2.20;S.D=0.79)display substantial involvement, indicating their meaningful contributions to the decision-making process, although not reaching the same level of influence as the principal actors.The implications for minor actors are that even though these actors may have a lower level of influence compared to the significant actors, their contributions are still valuable.Thus, it is essential to recognize and leverage their expertise and resources to enhance the effectiveness of climate-resilience initiatives.These actors are in concordance with the reports of the study (Olorunfemi et al., 2019).

Evidence-based climate-resilience innovation engaged by the input suppliers
Have advised on integrated water management strategies to manage heat stress among pigs, considering changing climatic conditions.10 100.0 Have advised on implementing efficient watering practices to enhance water management and conservation in our pig farming operations.10 100.0 Have advised on adopting feed management techniques that consider climate variability and aim to improve the resilience of pigs.9 90.0 Have advised on the implementation of insulation measures to improve the housing conditions of pigs, considering climate-related challenges.9 90.0 Have advised on collaborations or partnerships with other stakeholders to enhance climate resilience in pig farming.8 80.0 Have advised on training programs or received professional advice on climate-resilience innovations in pig farming.8 80.0 Have advised on the genetic selection methods to breed more resilient pigs to climate-related challenges.4 40.0Have advised on implementing of nutrient management measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with pig farming activities.4 40.0Have advised on implementing of manure application measures to reduce the environmental impact of pig waste and utilize it efficiently.3 30.0Have advised on innovative vaccination strategies to manage disease risks in pigs, considering the influence of climate change.3 30.0Source: Field survey, 2023 ARTICLE | OPEN ACCESS Discovery Agriculture 10, e3da1546 (2024) 6 of 14 S.D = Standard DeviationSource: Field survey, 2023 Furthermore, other major factors influencing the MOA personnel decision-making process include the "Potential benefits of adopting and implementing climate-resilience innovation" (M=3.40;S.D=0.97), which underscore the influence of community dynamics and perceived advantages in driving adoption.The "Support of the community and customers" (M=3.40;S.D=0.70) and the "Need to reduce the impact of pig farming on the environment" (M=3.30;S.D=0.68)further emphasize the significance of societal and environmental considerations.Thus, the availability of "reliable technology" (M=3.20;S.D=0.63) is a crucial factor in driving adoption, while "Government support for climate-resilience innovations" (M=3.10;S.D=0.88)holds sway over decision-making, indicating the importance of external backing.Meanwhile, perceived Risk involved in adopting and implementing climate-resilience innovations" (M=2.30;S.D=0.82)suggests that a certain level of acceptable Risk influences decision-making.The mixed responses from the Ministry of Agriculture personnel are in accordance with the study done by Ezeano et al., (2018) in southeast Nigeria, highlighting the reasons for these behaviors.ARTICLE | OPEN ACCESS Discovery Agriculture 10, e3da1546 (2024) 8 of 14 Factors that influence the decision-making processes of actors in the scaling of evidence-based climate-resilience innovation in pig farming (Input suppliers)

Table , Table 1
, which shows that most pig farming input suppliers are (54.2%)femaleand(45.8%) male.This is in accordance with Adebayo and Worth, (2022) postulation that women farmers generally prefer working with women extension advisors.In many parts of the world, it is culturally more acceptable.Also, data in Table1shows that a significant proportion

Table 1
Respondents' socioeconomic characteristics (Ministry of Agriculture Personnel)

Evidence-based climate-resilience innovation advised by the Ministry of Agriculture personnel
manage heat stress among pigs, considering changing climatic conditions.

Table 2
Evidence-based climate-resilience innovation advised by the Ministry of Agriculture personnel.

Table 3
presents findings on evidence-based climate-resilience innovations from pig farming input suppliers.The results indicate that many input suppliers have provided climate-resilience innovations to pig farmers.Notably, most input suppliers (83.3%) actively promote feed management techniques to enhance pig resilience in response to climate variability.Additionally, a substantial portion (75.0%) provides insulation measures to improve pig housing conditions, showcasing a proactive stance in addressing climate-related challenges.Moreover, a majority (62.5%) advises on genetic selection methods to breed climate-resilient pigs, demonstrating a strong focus on breeding practices that enhance resilience.Alongside this, a significant portion (62.5%) recommends water management strategies to manage heat stress in pigs, considering changing climatic conditions.
Further underscoring their commitment, a majority (58.3%) actively participate in training programs or seek professional advice to stay informed about climate-resilience innovations in pig farming.Finally, about 45.8% of input suppliers recommend innovative vaccination strategies to manage disease risks in pigs, considering the impact of climate change, indicating a moderate yet notable involvement in disease management influenced by climate factors.These findings collectively highlight a dedicated and comprehensive effort among input suppliers to address climate-related challenges in pig farming, which agrees with the roles stipulated by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information.

of 14 Factors that influence the Ministry of Agriculture personnel in the decision-making processes of scaling evidence-based climate- resilience innovation in pig farming
Table4shows that the significant factors that influence the decision-making processes of MOA include the knowledge and skills required for technology implementation (M=3.80;S.D=0.63), government policies (M=3.70;S.D=0.68), the cost of adopting and

Table 4
Factors influencing the decision-making processes of the MOA personnel in the scaling of evidence-based climate-resilience * Major factors that influence actors' decision-making process

Table 5
provides valuable insights into the factors influencing the decision-making processes of input suppliers on the scaling of evidence-based climate-resilience innovations in pig farming.Furthermore, Table6's mean scores and standard deviations assigned to each variable clearly indicate the relative importance of these factors.Notably, possessing the requisite "Knowledge and skills"

Table 5
(Ezeano et al., 2018)e the decision-making processes of actors in the scaling of evidence-based climate-resilience innovation in role of social dynamics in shaping adoption decisions.The "Risk involved in adopting and implementing climate-resilience innovations" (M=2.92;S.D=0.97) and the influence of "Government policies" (M=2.79;S.D=1.25) and "Government support for climateresilience innovations" (M=2.00;S.D=0.89)furtherhighlight the multifaceted nature of factors influencing decision-making processes, including perceived Risk and the regulatory context.These factors that affect the input suppliers are in accordance with the studies by(Ezeano et al., 2018).
Environmental considerations also play a crucial role, as the "Need to reduce the impact of pig farming on the environment" (M=3.29;S.D=0.81)prompts action to align with sustainability goals.The "Social acceptability of climate-resilience innovation within the pig farming community" (M=3.29;S.D=0.69) and the "Support of the community and customers" (M=3.08;S.D=0.97)emphasize the ARTICLE | OPEN ACCESS Discovery Agriculture 10, e3da1546 (2024) 9 of 14

Ministry of Agriculture personnel's responses on key actors involved in the decision-making process of scaling climate- resilience innovations
The Ministry of Agriculture personnel's responses highlight several key actors significantly influencing the decision-making process of scaling climate-resilience innovations.These significant actors include Agricultural Development Program (ADP) Staff (M=3.70;S.D=0.48) and State Ministries of Agriculture at both local and general levels (M=3.70'S.D=0.48)emerge as pivotal decision-makers, demonstrating a high level of influence.At the same time, Pig Farmers (M=3.60'S.D=0.70) and Consumers (M=3.60'S.D=0.52)equally assert their substantial sway in shaping these critical decisions.The implications for prominent actors are that the strong presence of ADP Staff, State Ministries of Agriculture, Pig Farmers, and Consumers showcase their essential role in driving the scaling of climate-

Table 6
Ministry of Agriculture personnel responses on actors involved in the decision-making process of scaling climate-resilience

Key actors involved in the decision-making process of scaling climate-resilience innovations. (Input supplier)
(Ume et al., 2018)r actors in the decision-making of scaling climate-resilience innovation in pig production system.This distribution of means underscores the complex hierarchy of influence and participation within the decision-making process, with specific stakeholders playing more significant roles than others in the context of scaling climate-resilience innovations, which is in accordance with the study by(Ume et al., 2018).

Table 7
Key actors involved in the decision-making process of scaling climate-resilience innovations.(Input supplier)

s perception of the challenges in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations
The findings on the challenges Ministry of Agriculture personnel faced in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations (

Table 8 )
(Makate, 2020)equate support from institutions and organizations plays a pivotal role as a significant barrier to scaling (M=3.70;S.D=0.48) is a major challenge.This underscores the need for more robust backing and collaboration in scaling.Similarly, limited access to technology and innovation infrastructure (M=3.70;S.D=0.48),lack of financial resources (M=3.60;S.D=0.70),inadequateinfrastructure and logistical challenges are also seen as impactful barriers (M=3.50;S.D=0.53), and absence of supportive policies and regulations is recognized as a challenge (M=3.40;S.D=0.70) were major challenges faced by the MOA personnel.These findings indicate the need to secure the necessary funding for the successful scaling of climate-resilience innovation and the signaling necessity for a conducive affects the economic viability of these innovations.The findings suggest that addressing these challenges is crucial for successfully scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations in pig farming systems.Thus, it underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that focus on the technical aspects of innovation and tackle issues related to awareness, knowledge, collaboration, and market access, as noted by(Makate, 2020).Similarly, the resistance to change and reluctance to adopt new practices are identified as minor challenges (M=2.40;S.D=0.84),indicating a need for targeted strategies to encourage adoption.Socio-cultural factors and traditional practices are noted as posing minor challenges to scaling (M=1.60;S.D=0.70),reflecting the complexity of integrating innovations into existing environments.These findings highlight the intricate nature of the landscape, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive strategies to overcome challenges related to finance, technology, regulations, and collaboration.Such strategies are crucial for the effective scaling of climate-resilience innovations within pig farming systems in accordance with (Oladele et al., 2019).

Table 8
Addressing Challenges in Scaling Evidence-Based Climate-Resilience Innovations for Ministry of Agriculture Personnel

The Input Suppliers perception of the challenges in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations
(Olorunfemi et al., 2019)nsive assessment of challenges inherent in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations, focusing on input suppliers.The Table showcases various challenges, their respective mean scores, and standard deviations.These mean scores gauge the perceived significance of each challenge.Notably, challenges are centred around resistance to change and hesitancy in adopting new practices (M=3.88;S.D=0.61),illustrating the difficulty in ushering in novel climate-resilience innovations.The lack of financial resources (M=3.67;S.D=0.70) is a substantial barrier, underscoring the financial strain of implementing these innovations.Limited access to technology and innovation infrastructure (M=3.63;S.D=0.71)emerges as a key impediment, indicating the necessity of accessible tools and systems for effective scaling.Market barriers such as restricted demand and market access (M=3.54;S.D=0.93)presentadditionalhurdles,potentially stemming from inadequate awareness or understanding of the innovations' benefits (M=3.46;S.D=0.59).Moreover, the dearth of technical expertise and knowledge (M=3.25;S.D=0.74)compoundschallenges, as does the influence of socio-cultural factors and traditional practices (M=3.13;S.D=0.90),collectivelycontributing to the complex landscape of scaling climateresilience innovations.These challenges are further echoed by inadequate infrastructure and logistical complications (M=3.08;S.D=0.78),highlighting the essential role of well-functioning systems in the scaling process.Additional challenges include inadequate support from institutions and organizations involved in scaling (M=2.38;S.D=1.14), the lack of coordination and collaboration among stakeholders (M: 2.04), and the scarcity of technical expertise and knowledge (M=2.08;S.D=1.06).While these challenges have lower mean scores, they still bear significance as barriers to input suppliers' broader adoption of climate-resilience innovations.While some challenges appear more pronounced than others, all these barriers pose obstacles to scaling climate-resilience innovations effectively, as highlighted by(Olorunfemi et al., 2019).

Table 9
Challenges in scaling evidence-based climate-resilience innovations (Input suppliers) Resistance to change and reluctance to adopt new practices hinder the scaling of climate-resilience