Gender differences in perceived effects of climate change and adaptation strategies among arable crop farmers in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined differences in perceived effects of climate change (CC) and adaptation strategies (AS) adopted by male and female arable crop farmers in Iwo Local Government. The study utilized a 2-stage sampling procedure to select a total of 120 arable crop farmers (84 males and 36 females) Data were collected using validated interview schedule and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, independent t-test and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation. Results showed that 39.3 percent of males and 55.6 percent of female arable crop farmers were between 41 and 50 years of age. Nearly 42.0 percent of males and 31.0 percent females had secondary education. Nearly all male and all female respondents (98.8 percent for males; 100.0 percent for females) perceived decreasing trend of rainfall as the most important effect of CC and perceived rise in temperature as the second most important (male 97.6 percent; female 97.2 percent). The adaptation strategies adopted by the male and female arable crop farmers were mixed cropping and mulching.  The main constraints faced by the male and female farmers included inadequate information on weather and credit facilities. There was no significant difference in the perceived effects of CC by male and female farmers (t=1.41, p>0.05) and change their adaptation strategies (t=0.38, p>0.05). Correlation between perceived effects of CC and adaptability was significant for males (r=2.25, p<0.05) but not among females (r=0.200, p>0.05). In conclusion, male and female farmers are more likely to perceive the effects of CC the same way and more likely to adopt the same AS. Both the male and female farmers should be supported and empowered to mitigate the effects of climate change on their agricultural production activities.