Climate Change Adaptive Capabilities of Small-Scale Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria: A Gender Analyses

Gender differentials in climate change adaptive capabilities among small-scale farmers in Abia State was assessed using a sample size of 70 male and female respondents each, generated via a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected from the respondents through the use of questionnaire and interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Z Test analysis. Results estimated 46 and 44 years as the mean ages of male and female respondents respectively. About 29%, 43% and 21% of the male respondents and 50%, 36% and 11% of the female respondents were into farming, trading and other professions respectively. Majority (86%) of the male and female (69%) respondents were literates and had mean monthly income of ₦32,871.143 and ₦28,642. 854 respectvely. Result equally, shows a mean farm size of 1.7 and 1.3 hectares for the male and female respondents with mean years of farming experience of 11 years and 12 years also. About 57%, 14%, 12% and 7% of male respondents acquired their farm lands through inheritance, lease, communal ownership, and outright purchase respectively as against 7%, 57%, 7% and 29% for the females. About 90% of the male respondents had between once every 2 years and once every 6 months of extension contacts compared to 82% of the females. Also 86% of the male respondents belong to social associations compared to their female counterparts (93%). Results further shows that a high proportion (X ≥ 50 %) of male and female respondents have high level of awareness on adaptive measures, but negative (X< 2.5) and low practice (X< 2.5) level of adaptive measures on climate change. The study equally shows that there is a remarkable difference between the male respondents’ attitude and practice levels and that of females in the study area. Therefore the study concludes that there is gender-gap differences in climate change adaptive capabilities among small- scale farmers in Abia State. The study recommends the need for government agencies and other stakeholders in climate change issues involve both male and females equitably in order to find a sustainable and location specific adaptive measures against negative effects of climate change mostly in the study area