Livelihood Challenges and Coping Strategies of The Inhabitants of a Hilly Area: A Study of Mafan Community in Kaura Local Area

Abstract

The study explores the livelihood, challenges and coping strategies of the people of MafanTakad of Kaura LGA of Kaduna State. The purpose of the study was to examine the physical conditions at Mafan and to assess their survival strategies with a view to suggesting some measures in solving their challenges. Data were obtained by the use of questionnaire that was administered to 247 people based on their availability and consent. Frequency table and percentages were used to analyze the data. Pair-wise ranking was used to prioritize the needs of the people. The result showed that there were more males who are married than females in the community represented by 413 to 294 respectively, with a total of 707 people. The findings further revealed that the people are closely attached to their natural environment and farming is their main means of livelihood. Other activities ike hunting, wild collection and palm- wine-tapping, are done more during the dry season when farming activities are over.The people rely more on the use of herbs to treat themselves. Security wise, the Mafan people have experienced several attacks from bandits, popularly called “unknown gun men”. Despite the security challenges, the people have no intention of leaving their ancestral homes.