Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Implications of livelihood strategies of female headed households in rural farming communities of Nigeria

¹Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Nigeria, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Nigeria
²Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Nigeria, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension
³Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Abstract

The overdependence of rural farming households in the developing economies, on farm-based enterprises have had quite a heavy toll on their ability to not just survive economically but especially to thrive beyond scraping by on the barest minimum. To make matters worse, in many parts of developing countries especially the rural areas, female headed households find it even more difficult to thrive economically especially when there is inequitable distribution of income, wealth and other important productive assets. This paper explores the dynamics of asset ownership among rural female headed households in selected areas of Southwest Nigeria, livelihood strategies employed by the female headed households and the possible determinants of key indicators of such household’s welfare status as well as for the livelihood strategies adopted by the households.The work was carried out in various facing communities in South West Nigeria and farming households headed by women were found to be disadvantaged in terms of productive assets ownership in both Owode Local Government area more than in the other two local government areas. Both livelihood intensification and extensification strategies were extensively adopted by the femal.e headed households, with situations existing where productive household assets were sold off to meet immediate family needs. The implications of these strategies for future production capacity of these households was also considered in the body of the work. It was recommended that government and other help agencies be encouraged to invest more in interventions that targets women asset ownership, more equitable distribution of income and equity among rural women in rural communities , as well as encourage enterprises in the rural areas that are more diversified from just agrarian enterprises.

Keywords: Female headed households. rural farming households, livelihood strategies

Contact Address: Olaniyi Odusina, Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Nigeria, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Ijagun, 120001 Ijebu ode, Nigeria, e-mail: odusinaoatasued.edu.ng