Comparative analysis of rural women’s livelihood adaptation to climate change in two agricultural zones of Osun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Rural women in Nigeria are disproportionately affected by climate change due to gendered, economic, and social disadvantages, yet their vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities remain underexplored. This study investigates climate change awareness, vulnerability, and coping strategies among rural women in the Osun East and Osun West Agricultural Zones of Osun State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling approach, 1,200 women were selected from 60 rural communities across six local government areas, with 1,010 valid responses analysed through descriptive statistics and factor analysis. Results show that most respondents were married (over 85%), within the economically active age group, and engaged in farming (65.7%). Educational attainment was generally low, and 71.9% earned below ₦70,000 ($41.17) monthly, reflecting widespread economic insecurity. Although over 85% were aware of climate change, awareness stemmed mainly from personal experience rather than formal education or media exposure. Factor analysis revealed five major vulnerability drivers: gender-based constraints, livelihood insecurity, food shortages, poor institutional preparedness, and weak recovery capacity. Common coping measures included climate-smart farming, informal knowledge sharing, and reliance on social networks. However, limited credit access and institutional support hindered adaptation. The study emphasises the need for gender-sensitive climate policies that strengthen rural women’s access to climate information, agricultural extension services, and affordable finance to promote inclusive resilience and sustainable livelihoods.