Livelihood Diversification as a Pathway to Climate Change Resilience among Rural Households in Kebbi State, Nigeria

This study examined the impact of livelihood diversification on climate change resilience among rural households in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 348 respondents from rural communities across the state. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires and interview schedules, while data analysis involved descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, income share analysis, well-being indices, and the Climate Resilience Index (CRI). The study assessed the extent to which diversified livelihood activities enhance households’ adaptive capacity and ability to respond to climate-related shocks. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were male (74.4%), while 58.6% had only primary education. Most households (67.8%) engaged in both farm and non-farm livelihood activities, with petty trading (51.1%) and artisanal occupations (38.5%) being the most prevalent non-farm options. The multinomial logistic regression results indicated that education level (p < 0.01), access to credit (p < 0.05), and experience of climate shocks (p < 0.01) significantly influenced households’ decisions to diversify their livelihoods. Non-farm activities accounted for 45.3% of total household income and contributed positively to key well-being indicators, including food security and children’s educational attainment. Furthermore, 62.4% of diversified households were classified as highly resilient to climate change impacts, compared to only 38.1% of non-diversified households. Major constraints to livelihood diversification included limited access to credit (61.5%) and poor rural infrastructure (54.3%). The study concludes that livelihood diversification significantly enhances climate change resilience among rural households. It therefore recommends the promotion of rural financial inclusion through microcredit schemes and targeted capacity-building interventions to strengthen adaptive capacity and sustainable livelihood outcomes.