ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN ENGAGED IN DAIRY PRODUCTION IN THE FACE OF EMERGING SECURITY CHALLENGES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the adaptation strategies of dairy women in the face of emerging security challenges in Kaduna State, with particular attention to the effects of insecurity on local dairy production, household nutrition, and rural livelihoods. The study is guided by four research questions and objectives and adopts an interpretivist research approach, which is qualitative in nature. Both primary and secondary data were utilized; primary data were collected through Key Informant Interviews (KII), Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and In-Depth Interviews (IDI), to capture the lived experiences and perceptions of dairy women facing insecurity in Kaduna State. Secondary data were obtained from newspapers, journal articles, policy briefs, and books, thereby enhancing the validity and reliability of the study through triangulation and a more robust understanding of the research problem. Furthermore, the study integrates the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) and Gender and Development (GAD) theories to provide a comprehensive analytical perspective. While the SLF emphasizes livelihood assets, vulnerabilities, and adaptive capacity, the GAD framework highlights the gendered dimensions of resource access, decision-making, and empowerment. The findings reveal that insecurity, driven by armed conflict and climate change, has systematically disrupted dairy production, destroyed critical assets, and trapped dairy women in cycles of poverty, insecurity, and limited market access. In addition, the study shows that persistent gender inequality, weak institutional support, and reliance on short-term coping strategies continue to undermine women’s economic empowerment, even though collective action presents some potential, albeit constrained by structural and cultural barriers. In conclusion, the study recommends the adoption of a gender-responsive and community-driven approach by government and relevant stakeholders to strengthen dairy women’s resilience. This should include the provision of secure infrastructure, improved financial inclusion, the promotion of cooperative development, and the implementation of inclusive policies that integrate women into decision-making processes while safeguarding their livelihoods.