Title: Socioeconomic Determinants Of Women Farmers' Coping Strategies In Insecurity Prone Rural Communities Of Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Amafade, U. G, Umehai M. C, Abushe, P. O, Ebewore, S. O, Ovwigho, B. O
Volume: 10
Issue: 6
Pages: 179-185
Publication Date: 2026/06/28
Abstract:
Women farmers living in rural communities are most affected by insecurity due to their vulnerability. Over the years, women farmers in the Niger Delta area have developed resilient strategies in insecurity situations, however, the factors that influences this resilience have been under studied. Thus, this study investigated the socioeconomic determinants of women farmers coping strategies in insecurity prone rural communities of Niger Delta, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 354 respondents from Delta, Edo and Imo States using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistic was used to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents and the coping strategies employed by the women farmers. Multiple regression was used to determine the factors that influence coping strategies employed by the women farmers. The respondents are predominantly middle-aged farmers (mean = 42 years), mostly married (68.9%), and family size of six (6) persons. They are moderately educated (34.5%) with secondary school education. They are well experienced farmers of over 12 years and are small scale farmers with 1.1-2.0 hectres. Most (76.6%) are members of cooperations. 59.6% of the households are headed by male. The most coping strategies employed by the women farmers are; cooperative membership (mean = 3.52), backyard farming (mean = 3.40), and petty trading (mean =3.35). Age (p = 0.004), education (p = 0.001), household size (p = 0.018) membership of cooperatives (p = 0.003), and access to credit (p = 0.000) were the socioeconomic determinant of coping strategies employed by women farmers in the study area. government and other relevant institutions and stakeholders should strengthen women farmers' access to credit facilities, agricultural extension service, cooperative membership among women farmers and also intensify effort to address insecurity in the Niger Delta area.