Analysis of Gender and Climate Change Vulnerability Among Farming Communities in Katsina State

Climate change poses differential risks to men and women in rural Nigeria, with women's constrained access to resources, information, and decision-making power amplifying their vulnerability to climate-related agricultural shocks. This study analyses the gendered dimensions of climate change vulnerability among farming communities in Katsina State, focusing on Funtua, Malumfashi, and Kaita Local Government Areas. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, with 240 farmers equally divided by gender completing structured questionnaires on climate experiences, adaptive capacity, and resource access. Data were analysed using independent samples t-tests, regression analysis, and descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that female farmers demonstrate significantly lower adaptive capacity scores than male farmers, driven primarily by lower land ownership rates, restricted access to drought-resistant seed varieties and irrigation, limited access to climate information through extension services, and reduced mobility for seeking off-farm income during drought years. Women who belong to cooperative groups demonstrate measurably higher adaptive capacity, suggesting collective action as a resilience mechanism. Recommendations include gender-responsive climate adaptation programming, targeted distribution of climate-smart agricultural inputs to female farmers, and inclusion of women in community climate governance structures. This study enriches gender and climate change literature in North West Nigeria. Keywords: gender, climate change vulnerability, farming communities, Katsina State, adaptive capacity