GENDER DIMENSIONS OF ADOPTING CLIMATE-SMART INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE IN NIGERIA  

Climate change has had serious implications for aquaculture production. Consequently, understanding the perception of climate change by fish farmers is important for their preparedness to adapt and change their practices. The need for gender disaggregated data, information on climate change and means of adaptation are crucial to the sustenance of their livelihood. The study was therefore aimed to assess the gender perception to climate change of fish farmers practicing integrated fish-rice-poultry and fish-rice-pig aquaculture systems or sole fish production; examine the differences in livelihood diversification and adaptation measures. Multi-stage sampling method was used to select fish farmers in three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria (North Central, South East and South West). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected for the study. Structured questionnires were administered to 185 registered fish farmers practicing integrated or sole fish production. Descriptive statistics chi-square and linear regression were used for the analysis.  Result show that more men (75.1%) than women were involved in fish farming. Fish farmers practiced different forms of integrated fish culture systems and had other sources of livelihood. Vulnerability and adaptation options of fish farming households to climate change were documented. Chi-square result revealed that there was significant difference between the perception of men and women to climate change (P< 0.05). Result of the linear regression analysis indicated that years of fish farming experience significantly (p < 0.05) influenced fish farmers' perception of climate change on fish production. The paper concluded that climate-smart aquaculture will require improved efficiency in fish production and reduced vulnerability of those negatively impacted by climate change.  The need to disseminate more information on causes of climate change through extension delivery services and involve women more in decision-making with respect to plans and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change were highlighted.