Batik Textile Production as Sustainable Livelihood in Ekiti State

Batik textile production, a resist-dyeing technique with deep roots in Nigerian and broader West African craft traditions, has attracted renewed interest as a source of sustainable creative livelihoods for artisans in rural and peri-urban settings. This study examines batik textile production as a sustainable livelihood strategy among artisan communities in Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, situated in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone. A mixed-methods design is employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 60 batik producers with in-depth interviews with 15 key informants including master dyers, cooperative leaders, and extension workers. The study assesses production volumes, income levels, market linkages, the types and sources of wax and dye materials used, and the design innovation strategies employed by artisans to differentiate their products. The theoretical framework draws on sustainable livelihoods theory, craft economics literature, and the indigenous textile production scholarship. The Ekiti context is significant because the state government has invested in craft enterprise development as part of its internally generated revenue strategy, providing an institutional backdrop for evaluating how policy support interacts with artisan livelihoods. Recent literature on Nigerian batik production has identified market access, input cost instability, and competition from imported textiles as the primary challenges facing producers. Findings are intended for the Ekiti State Ministry of Commerce, craft cooperatives, and development organisations supporting artisan enterprise in the South West. Keywords: batik, sustainable livelihood, Ekiti State, textile artisan, South West Nigeria