Gender Disparities in Climate-Smart Agriculture: Analyzing Awareness, Adoption Barriers, and Productivity Gaps among Base-of-Pyramid Farmers in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines gender-based differences in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption among smallholder farmers in Southeast Nigeria, where women constitute over 60% of the agricultural workforce. The research investigates barriers to CSA adoption between male and female farmers using a mixed-methods approach, including household surveys (n=360), interviews, and focus groups across three states. The analysis employed Heckman's Double Hurdle Model, factor analysis, and Oaxaca decomposition to examine adoption patterns and gender productivity differentials. Results reveal that female farmers face a 43.6% productivity gap compared to male counterparts, with resource access disparities explaining 65.8% of this gap. Male farmers demonstrated higher awareness of CSA practices, particularly in technical innovations like soil conservation (male: 70%, female: 55%). Gender emerged as a significant determinant of adoption (β = 0.342, p < 0.05), while resource limitations were identified as the primary constraint, accounting for 26.75% of the variance. These findings suggest that targeted interventions combining improved resource access, technical training, and institutional reforms could significantly reduce gender disparities in agricultural productivity, enhancing the region's climate resilience and economic development.