Intra-household gender differences in climate change perception and agricultural adaptation: evidence from Anambra state, Nigeria

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Introduction In this article, we examine the influence of gender-based differences in perceptions of climate change on the uptake of agricultural adaptation practices at the intra-household level. Existing studies on climate change adaptation largely compare male- and female-headed households, overlooking intra-household dynamics and failing to explicitly model the relationship between gender-differentiated perceptions of climate change and the uptake of specific adaptation practices within shared farming systems. Methods We focus on six practices—mulching, mounds and ridges, early planting, multiple cropping, drought-resistant crops, and disease-resistant varieties—and apply multivariate probit regression analysis to survey data from 286 spousal pairs across 12 rural communities in Anambra State, Nigeria. Findings We find significant gender disparities in perceptions of climate change, particularly regarding prolonged flooding, with husbands reporting higher perceptions than their wives. Wives’ perceptions significantly enhanced the uptake of mounds and ridges, mulching, early planting, and multiple cropping, while husbands’ perceptions primarily influenced the uptake of mulching and early planting practices. Various factors, including age, membership in social groups, and educational attainment, positively influenced both spouses’ uptake of different agricultural adaptation practices. We also find positive correlations between specific adaptation measures adopted by spouses, with husbands more likely to combine drought-resistant crops and mounds and ridges, while wives tend to pair drought-resistant and disease-resistant crops. Discussion These findings underscore the importance of enhancing gender-responsive adaptation policies to strengthen climate resilience. Leveraging the diverse perspectives, adaptation measures, and needs of both men and women in agricultural households can lead to more robust gender-sensitive climate information services and needs-based adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions.

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