Original Research
Exploring the role and lived experiences of people with disabilities working in the agricultural sector in northern Nigeria the agricultural sector in northern Nigeria
Submitted: 30 May 2021 | Published: 16 August 2022
About the author(s)
Precious N. Sango, International School of Disability Studies, Jos and Abuja, Nigeria; Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, School of Applied Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United KingdomMohammed Bello, African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD), Kano, Nigeria
Roy Deveau, Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
Kevin Gager, Propcom Mai-karfi Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
Belinda Boateng, Propcom Mai-karfi Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
Hauwa K. Ahmed, Propcom Mai-karfi Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
Mohammed N. Azam, Propcom Mai-karfi Programme, Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: It is estimated that over 75.0% of households in sub-Saharan Africa are involved in agriculture, and the majority of the poor in rural areas rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. One billion people living with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries are argued to make up the poorest of the poor, yet to our knowledge, no literature has captured the livelihood of people living with disabilities in the context of farming in Nigeria, specifically northern Nigeria where most of the households are involved in agriculture and related activities.
Objectives: This article reports on findings from a study that sought to understand disability in the context of northern Nigerian farming, with a particular focus on the role and lived experiences of people living with disabilities working in the agricultural sector.
Method: A survey questionnaire was developed and captured the experiences of 1067 people living with disabilities working in the agricultural sector across five states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna and Yobe) in northern Nigeria.
Results: Findings indicate that people with disabilities are actively participating in agricultural activities for several reasons, which specifically included ‘forced to and for survival’. When participants reported needing care, this was predominantly provided by family members. Findings also showed that participants with disabilities experienced several economic and sociocultural challenges because of their impairments.
Conclusion: This study adds to the very limited literature on farmers living with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa and so highlights the need for more research to be conducted with farmers living with disabilities in Nigeria, particularly female farmers living with disabilities. These will provide more evidence pertaining to the experiences of farmers living with disabilities in order to provide effective disability- and gender-inclusive agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes in Nigeria.
Contribution: The results of this research reveal important insights relating to the experiences of farmers living with disabilities in northern Nigeria, which can contribute to informing future developmental projects to achieve effective inclusion and actively benefit people living with disabilities.
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Crossref Citations
1. Disability and labour market participation among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya
Stevens Bechange, Emma Jolley, Anita Jeyam, George Okello, Ben Wekesa, Elena Schmidt, Muhammad Ramzan
PLOS ONE vol: 19 issue: 7 first page: e0306458 year: 2024
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306458