Gender Analysis of Cassava Farmers’ Climate Change Awareness ... 81NDHDR, 2006). Myriads of problems ranging from environmental, socio-
economic, political, ethno-cultural and natural have made the Niger Delta
region a boiling point in the Nigerian history. These problems are food
insecurity, inadequate portable water, pollution and environmental
degradation, poverty, kidnapping and insecurity, agitation for resource control
and of course very high vulnerability to effects of climate change. Climate
change seems to be the most daunting problem in the Niger Delta because
climate change affects human life (Ajayi; 2016; Ajayi, 2015 Nzeadibe et al;
2011, and UN, 2010). Human activities have exacerbated climate change with
its attendant impacts on agriculture in many communities in the Niger Delta
region (Ajayi, 2014). Climate change adaptation is a necessary aspect of
climate change studies, as it examines the coping strategies by farmers rather
than the prevention or elimination of climate change which is quite impossible.
Adesoji and Ayinde (2013) and Ajao and Ogunniyi (2011) both investigated
farmers’ adaptation strategies to the effects of climate change in Nigeria.
Moreover, (Ajayi, 2014b) observed that cassava production in Nigeria has
potentials in reducing poverty due to its low cost of production. Cassava is
also preferable to other seasonal crops such as yam, beans or peas, because the
crop displays exceptional ability to adapt to climate change (HarvestPlus,
2013). Its tolerance to low soil fertility; resistance to negative climatic
conditions such as drought; pests and diseases; and the fact that its roots can be
stored for long periods underground, even after they mature make it well-
suited for poverty reduction and climate change adaption (Ajayi, 2014b).
While cassava production is done by both male and female in the Niger
Delta region, there is wide gap in knowledge as to gender analysis of cassava
farmers’ awareness and adaptation in the Niger Delta region. Most studies
(Ajayi 2016; Ajayi, 2015; Ajayi 2014b, Ajayi, 2014a, HarvetPlus, 2013,
Fatuase and Ajibefun 2012 and Sanni et al., 2009) carried out on cassava
production and climate change in the region and even in Nigeria at large were
limited to cassava farmers in general without the understanding of the gender
influence. It was on this background that the study was conducted to answer
the following questions:
- What are gender-based socio-economic characteristics of cassava
farmers in the study area - What is the gender-based climate change awareness of cassava
farmers in the study area - What the gender-based cassava farmers’ constraints to climate change
adaptation in the study area