Sustaining Rural Livelihoods: Assessing The Impact of Agricultural Growth On SDG 8 (Decent Work) In Rural Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria.

The study assesses the relationship between agricultural growth and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work) among rural households in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Employing a mixed-methods approach that integrated a quantitative survey of 355 rural households with qualitative interviews, the research sought to analyse the characteristics of decent work, assess the impact on health, and identify institutional barriers to sustainable livelihoods. The findings reveal that current agricultural growth is severely undermined by high vulnerability and structural deficits, with 74.1% of respondents reporting significant crop losses due to climate shocks and conflict. In comparison, 71.3% of farmers suffer from profound financial exclusion due to a lack of access to credit. Crucially, the analysis of Decent Work indicators confirmed that the sector primarily operates with indecent labour conditions. Agricultural labourers often receive severely inadequate daily wages (predominantly ₦500–₦1000), and a stark 69.8% lack any form of social protection, leaving them exposed to economic and health risks. Furthermore, the study confirmed significant gendered disparities in resource access. The central conclusion is that the low-input, low-yield agricultural model in Adamawa State is unsustainable and actively fails to translate growth into dignified and secure livelihoods, thus inhibiting the achievement of Decent Work. The study proposes targeted strategies, including sectoral minimum wage guidelines and de-risked agricultural credit schemes, to formalise the sector and ensure inclusive growth.