The component structure of a 54-item scale measuring different aspects of knowledge on climate change was investigated among extension officers in North-West Province, South Africa. Items on knowledge of climate change were measured at interval level and analyzed by Principal Component Analysis. From the knowledge test items 13 components were extracted to show areas for knowledgeable extension officers on climate change. These were that climate change leads to shifting seasons, threatens food security, alters land cover, alters sun radiation, alters humidity, leads to some weather gains in some regions, leads to high incidences of crop failures, induces changes in farming system, alters input use, led to development of irrigation efficiency, led to development of trash blanketing, led to development of land use change, and fallow practices reduce climate change problems. The results have several implications for training and educating extension officers in climate change issues as extension officers often work reactively rather than proactively because of the large number of clients and the small number of extension agents.

Climate change; extension delivery; knowledge; perceived effect; extension officers; South Africa

Northwest University