Effect of Gender on Farmers’ Ownership, Control and Accessibility to Climate Change Adaptation Resources in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The ability to access, control and own adaptation resources is a critical factor in determining rural farmers’ adaptive potential and decision-making towards adaptation to climate change. This study investigated the effect of gender on farmers’ accessibility, control and ownership of climate change adaptation resources in Ogun and Ekiti States respectively, Nigeria. Three hundred and fifty eighty men (358) and (222) women farmers were randomly selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain data and analysed with frequency counts, means, percentages, Chi-square. A positive and statistically significant association (P<0.05) existed between the gender of the respondents and their accessibility to adaptation resources, like hoe (χ2= 10.137), wheelbarrow (χ2=5.647), digger (χ2=11.982), sprayers (χ2=11.792), head pan (χ2=9.5599), education (χ2=22.359), grass plant (χ2=9..912), health-care (χ2=13.764), pesticides (χ2=6.391) inorganic fertilizer (χ2=7.876), transportation means (χ2=10.897), average annual income (χ2= 8.026), labour (χ2=12 .557), information (χ2=12.557), and medicinal plants (χ2=11.296). There existed a positive and statistically significant association (P<0.05) between the gender of the farmers and their control of adaptation resources like digger (χ2=14.630), sprayer (χ2=6.631), head pan (χ2=4.811), education (χ2=11.657) transportation (χ2=3.364) and average annual income (χ2=33.013). Also, there existed a positive and significant association (P<0.05) between the gender of the farmers and their ownership of adaptation resources like land (χ2=6.815), water (χ2-4.491), health-care (χ2= 2.088), labour (χ2= 5.992) and sources of information of climate change (χ2=3.595). As a result, gender-responsive intervention is necessary to strengthen men and women farmers' climate resilience and improve their adaptation capabilities through access to