Gender and climate change adaptation strategies among farming communities in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined gender and climate change adaptation strategies among farming communities in Oke- Ogun, Oyo State. A multistage sampling procedure was employed for the study. Overall, 70 and 50 respondents were sampled in Saki and Kajola respectively; making a total of 120 respondents comprising 83 males (69.2%) and 37 females (30.8%). The results show that more males than females had access to resources, services and technology such as extension services, credit facilities, market, training, technology and climate information. Women also had less of land ownerships and participated less in decision-making on climate change adaptation measures. Most of the respondents perceived increased rainfall amounts, sunshine duration and temperatures in the last 10 - 15 years. There were commonalities in the most widely used climate change adaptation strategies by male and female farmers; notably crop diversification and crop rotation while investing in water infrastructure and planting of trees were among the least used climate change adaptation methods. Similarly, the most widely experienced impact of climate change by the male and female gender were loss of income and investments and less access to nutrition.