**3.1 Socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study villages**

Assessed socio-economic parameters were sex status of respondents, education level, occupation and age of respondents (**Table 1**). The study involved both men and women whereby 63.2% were male and 36% were females which reflect the African cultural families that mostly are headed by men. The education level of respondents was as well reflective of African rural areas' situation in which most respondents had primary education (66%) followed by those who have not attended formal education (26.4%). The study involved more respondents aged above 36 years (74.5%) as are the ones matured enough to recall changes and variations of the climate in the study area and among them 24.5% were aged above 60 years who could easily assimilate the current climatic condition about agricultural activities compared to the past decades. 97% of respondents depend only on agriculture (crop farming and livestock) as a source of income and livelihood while only 3% are employed as local government authorities and other government sectors. During the dry season normally most of the people living in these villages are engaged in small-scale gypsum mining in which is normally becomes a main source of livelihood during the dry season.
