Promoting Entrepreneurship and Diversification as a Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation among Rural Women in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study sought to identify enterprises carried out by rural women in Anambra State, Nigeria, which help them to adapt to climate change. Structured interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of four hundred and sixty- two respondents. Data were analysed using percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. Majority (88.7%) of the rural women were involved in multiple enterprises in order to cope with climate change. They were involved in enterprises such as planting of crops (88.1%), marketing of farm produce (79.2%), rearing of farm animals (42.2%), petty trading (58.2%), among others. The study also revealed that rural women made higher incomes per annum from enterprises such as petty trading (M= .61,766.6), teaching (M=.32,625.0), sale of cassava (M= .16,878.0), sale of chicken (M=.12,983.6), among others. The study recommends that appropriate measures should be taken to develop capabilities in order to empower rural women economically to cope with challenges of climate change. This will help to reduce poverty and vulnerability among rural women as well as enhance rural development.