UNDERSTANDING GENDER VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION TO WATER STRESS AMONG ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN PATIGI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Men and women face different water-related challenges due to their specific roles and responsibilities in the agrarian sector, as well as the gender power relations they experience.  Consequently, this study examined the adaptation strategies to water stress employed by male and female arable farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select 140 respondents. Data was collected using an interview schedule and analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The study revealed that poor credit facilities and insufficient water supply were major constraints faced by arable farmers in the study area.  Vulnerability to water stress was higher among female arable farmers. Adaptation strategies used by female arable crop farmers were mulching and planting shade trees, while their male counterpart used contour planting, cover crops, and irrigation. Therefore, providing women arable crop farmers with access to resources and irrigation systems is essential, and gender-sensitive policies should be implemented for male and female farmers