Socio-Economic Evaluation of Cassava Production by Women Farmers in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Okereke,  Chukwuma Odii ¹ (Department of Agricultural Economics, Management and Extension Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki)

Received: 2015-12-25 Accepted : 2015-12-25 Published : 2012-09-01

Keywords: Evaluation, Women farmers, Socio-economic, Cassava Production,

Abstract :

A research was conducted to evaluate cassava production by women farmers in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty smallholder female cassava farmers were selected using multi-stage sampling. Data were collected from the respondents using questionnaire and interview schedule. Then descriptive statistics (mean, frequency and percentage) were used in analyzing the data obtained. Result showed that 60% of the respondents were in the age range of 30-60 years. Seventy three percent of them had one form of formal education or another. Majority (78%) of them cultivated 0.5-2.5ha of land with cassava per annum indicating that they were mainly small-scale producers. The use of manual implements such as hoes and cutlasses was pronounced in cassava production by the women farmers. Furthermore, the dominant source of finance for cassava production was personal saving (82%) with only 8% of them obtaining micro-credit from banks. Then 94%, 10%, 3% and 1% of the farmers processed their cassava into garri, fufu, chips and starch respectively. Result also revealed a number of constraints militating against cassava production by the women farmers in the study area. These include among others; lack of finance (93%), high cost of fertilizer (88%) and sex discrimination (81%) in relation to access to land and decision making. Climate change was also found to be a significant factor constraining cassava production in the study area. It was suggested that the women farmers should constitute themselves into cooperative societies to enable them access loans from banks for cassava production. [O. C, Odii. Socio-Economic Evaluation of Cassava Production by Women Farmers in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2012; 2(3):129-136].

References:

1. Akinnagbe, O. M. (2010). Constraints and strategies towards improving cassava production and processing in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research. 35(3): 387-394.

2. Buckland, L. and Haleegoah, J. (1996). Gender Analysis in Agricultural Production, IITA Research Guides 58 Training programme. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan Nigeria, Pp: 8 – 14.

3. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). (1998). A Woman’s rightful Place. Spore Bimonthly Bulletin. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Netherlands No.44.

4. EMOCM. (2012). Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters. Retrieved on 07/02/12 from http://ensmcm.org/Igboeze-North.htm

5. Ezedinma, C. I., Okafor, C., Asumugha, G. N. and Nweke, F. (2006). Trends in farm labour productivity and implications for cassava industrialization in Nigeria. Proceeding of the 40th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria held at NRCRI Umudike, Abia State. October 16th – 20th, 2006. Pp 109 – 115.

6. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). (2003). FAOSTAT, FAO Statistical database Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved on 07/02/12 from http://faostat.Fao.org.

7. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). (2004a). Trends in cassava production. www.fao.org.

8. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). (2004b). Online Statistical Database. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, website www.Fao.org.

9. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). (2004c). The global cassava development strategy. International fund for Agricultural development, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome 2004.

10. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). (2006). FAOSTAT. Statistics division of the Food and Collections. Sub set Agriculture. Agricultural Organization. http:/faostat.Fao.org.

11. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FAO). (2004). Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria Annual Report, 2004.

12. Francisco, D. R. V. (2004). The determinants of firms growth: An empirical examination series documents of Trabajo April 2004 draft. P.3.

13. Fresco, L. O. (1998). Nigeria Agricultural Education an Opportunity in Rural Development for Women sustainable Development, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), for the United Nations Pp.4.

14. Futa, M. T. (1992). Structural Adjustment Programs and their Implications for Agricultural Development in Africa. Invited paper presented at the at the International Symposium on “Sustainable Food Production in Sub-Saharan African” held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Institute, 7 – 9 December 1992.

15. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). (2010). IFAD re-iterates negative impacts of climate change on Agriculture. Retrieved on 25/01/2011 from http://ngrclimatereports.com.

16. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). (1984). Annual Report, Ibadan, Nigeria.

17. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). (2002). Competitiveness workshop. Opportunities for cassava in Nigeria. Bokanga, IITA – Ibadan.

18. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). (2004). Nigerian’s Cassava Industry: Statistical Handbook.

19. Knight, J., Weir, S and Woldehanna, T. (2003). The role of education in Facilitating risk-taking and innovation in agriculture. Journal of Development Studies 39(6), 1–22. In: Masakazu H (2010) www.econ.niigata-u.ac.jp/~hojo/farmer.pdf.

20. Kormawa, P. M., Kolawole, K. B., Azuogu, I., Okorji, E. C., and Ezedinma, C. I. (2002). Needs Assessment study for market-driven Agricultural Technology Transfer and Commercialization in Abia State Rusep series, pp. 8 – 26.

21. Kormawa, P. and Akoroda, M. O. (2003). Cassava supply Chain arrangements for industrial utilization in Nigeria. Ibadan: IITA.

22. Maracchi, G., Sirotenko, O and Bindi, M. (2005). Impacts of present and future climate variability on agriculture and forestry in the temperate region: Europe Climate Change 70:117-135.

23. Mendelsohn, R., Dinar, A and Dalfelt, A. (2000). Climate change impacts on African agriculture. Preliminary analysis prepared for the World Bank. Washington, D.C. In: Till, B., A. Artner; R. Siebert and S. Sieber (2010) Micro-level practice to adapt to climate change for African small scale farmers. A review of selected literature. Discussion Paper 00953. February, 2010. Environment and Production Technology Division. p.4.

24. Mensa T. A. (2002). Linkage with rural farmer. A processors experience promoting market-led agricultural technology transfer and commercialization in Nigeria Pp: 15 – 16.

25. Mijindadi, N. B. (1993). Agricultural Extension for women: Experience for Nigeria. Paper presented at the 13th World Bank Agricultural Research Management Washington, D.C. pp 6 – 7.

26. Ogunbameru, B. O. and Pandey, I. M. (1992). Nigerian Rural Women Participation in Agriculture as decision making focus on Adamawa and Taraba state. Nigerian Journal of Agricultural Extension, 7: 71 – 76.

27. Oladeebo, J. O. (2004). Resource-use efficiency of small and large farmers in South Western Nigeria: Implication of Food security. International Journal of Food and Agricultural Research 1 (1 & 2): 227.

28. Olakulehin, J. O. and Ajiola, F. S. (2005). Cassava Production: Nigerian’s best kept secret Lagos farmer 1, Pp 2 – 4.

29. Olesen, J.E and Bindi, M (2002) Consequences of climate change for European agricultural productivity, land use and policy. European Journal of Agronomy, 16 (4):239-262.

30. Omonona, B. T, Egbetokun, O. A and Akanbi, A. T. (2010). Farmers Resource – Use and Technical Efficiency in Cowpea Production in Nigeria. Economic Analysis & Policy, 40 (1): 87-96.

31. Onwumere, J. (2010). Assets holding size and determinants of welfare of cassava-based investors in Abia State Nigeria. Proceedings of the 44th Annual Conference of Agricultural Society of Nigeria, held in LAUTECH, Ogbomoso Oyo State Nigeria. 18th – 22nd October, 2010, Pp: 131 – 133.

32. Onwumere J., Nwajiuba, C. U and Asumugha, G. N. (2006). Intra-Sectoral Linkapers in cassava based agribusiness in Abia State. Proceedings of Nigeria Association of Agricultural Economics, LAUTECH Ogbomosho, 2006. Oyo State, pp 53 – 61.

33. Saito, K. A. and Surling, D. (1993). Developing Agricultural Extension for Women Farmers. World Bank discussion paper No. 5, pp 20 – 25.

34. Scott, G. J., Rosegrant, M. W and Ringler, C. (2000). Roots and tubers for the 21st Century: Trends, projections, and policy for developing countries. Washing D.C: IFPRI.

35. Till, B., Artner, A., Siebert, R and Sieber, S. (2010). Micro-level practice to adapt to climate change for African small scale farmers. A review of selected literature. Discussion Paper 00953. February, 2010. Environment and Production Technology Division. p.1.

36. Yahaya, M. K. (2002). Gender and Communication variables in Agricultural Information Dissemination in two Agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Research Monograph, University of Ibadan, pp: 68.

37. Yemisi I. O and Aisha A. M. (2009). Gender Issues in Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria: The Role of Women. Humanity & Social Sciences Journal, 4 (1): 19-30