Gendered Impacts Of Climate Change: Flooding, Livelihoods, And Food Security In Ogbaru Lga, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the intricate nexus between flooding, food security, and the gendered impacts of climate change on female farmers in Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State, Nigeria. In light of the escalating threat posed by climate change, which amplifies extreme weather events such as flooding, the agricultural sector, particularly smallholder farming, faces ever-growing challenges in safeguarding food security. This research seeks to elucidate how climate-induced flooding disrupts agricultural productivity, disproportionately affecting women, who play a central role in food production within rural Nigeria. Employing a survey-based methodology, data were collected via structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions from a sample of 394 female farmers across selected communities. The findings underscore that flooding significantly hampers crop yields, exacerbates food insecurity, and amplifies the vulnerabilities faced by women, due in no small part to prevailing gender inequities. Moreover, the study reveals that while income influences agricultural output, other factors such as climatic variability, access to resources, and socio-political dynamics play equally pivotal roles in determining food security outcomes. The study calls for the formulation of gender-responsive policies and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices to bolster the adaptive capacities of women farmers in flood-prone areas, thus ensuring a more sustainable and equitable approach to food security in the context of climate change.