The contribution of women in artisanal crayfish harvesting and other related fishery products (seafood) cannot be overemphasized, yet they are being un-noticed economically. This study examined empirically gender differentials in poverty among crayfish harvesting households in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. A multi-stage and stratified random sampling techniques was employed in selecting a total of 409 (300 males and 109 females) headed crayfish harvesting households. A structured questionnaire and interview schedule survey was used for the study. FGT model was used to analyse gender differences in poverty status of the respondents while Oaxaca–Blinder (O-B) Decomposition Technique was used to decomposed poverty. The result revealed that, female harvesters are more vulnerable to poverty than their male counterparts in the region with their poverty incidence (0.59), poverty depth (0.33) and poverty severity (0.18) being higher than 0.33, 0.32 and 0.17 for males. The aggregate decomposition revealed that gender differentials gap was mostly being accounted for by coefficient component (structural or discrimination effect) than endowment component (characteristics or composition effect) and interaction effect. The detailed decomposition that explained the gender differential gap indicates that marital status, household size and income of crayfish harvesting are the major factors that explained the endowment effect while marital status, labour, income of crayfish harvesting and access to crayfish harvesting net are the factors that explained the structural effect. Additionally, the result of the analysis of poverty coping strategy use index (PCSUI) revealed that spending of saved income (8.16%), children eating first (8.15%), intensifying of the amount of work done on the crayfish fishing to increase output (8.03%), purchasing items on credit (7.98%), diversify off-fishing activities to increase income (7.50%), borrowing money for household upkeep (7.20%), reduction in food consumption (7.20%) among others were the major poverty coping strategies used in the area. The study recommended that gender equality and equity be ensure in the provision, allocation and distribution of productive (harvesting) resources/services. More so, bias and discriminatory laws, norms, belief and traditional restrictions against women should be review and repeal while hidden ones be eliminated among others.

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Vulnerability assessments to climate change are a possible criterion for adaptation and have a long history on multidisciplinary research. Identification and assessing the degree of vulnerability as a result of climate change is an essential pre-requisite for reducing climate change impacts. The study focuses on vulnerability of rice farmers to climate change in Kogi State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from primary and secondary sources with the aid of structured questionnaire administered to 123 rice farmers from across the four agricultural zones in the State. A total of 15 environmental and socio-economic indicators were identified and analyzed to measure vulnerability status in the agricultural zones. Composite Climate Change Vulnerability Index computed from the hazards, sensitivity and adaptive capacity components revealed that all the rice farmers’ were vulnerable to climate change but vary in the degrees of vulnerability. Scores of Exposure-Sensitivity Index (ESI) suggest that rice farmers in Owolikpa and Igalaogba were most prone and susceptible to climate change whereas, Baganna, Ikande, Odoepe, and Iluke were least exposed and sensitive to climate change. Kpancehe, Kakanda, Girinya, Eggan,and Aiyetoro were categorized under very high to high degree of vulnerability while Iya, Baganna and Echa were rated low vulnerable to climate change. These prioritized areas, based on rank and degree of vulnerability, should be given immediate consideration, and measures should be taken by internalizing region specific needs to address the growing challenge of climate change.