Factors Associated with Women Farmers’ Level of Control in Farmer-Groups in Kwara State, Nigeria

Subject Areas : Rural and Agricultural Sociology

Kemi Omotesho ¹ , Gbolagade Adesiji ² , Adeniyi Akinrinde ³ , Oyindamola Aluko ⁴

1 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University if Ilorin, Ilorin, nigeria
3 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University if Ilorin, Ilorin, nigeria
4 - Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University if Ilorin, Ilorin, nigeria

Received: 2018-05-18 Accepted : 2018-09-14 Published : 2018-09-21

Keywords: Control, Women farmers, Farmer-groups,

Abstract :

Womenfarmers’ low level of access to productive resources has hindered the realization of their full potential in agriculture. While membership of farmer-groups has been recognised as an avenue for farmers to harness their resources, women farmers often suffer discrimination in such groups as socio-cultural values encourage male dominance in most rural communities. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of women farmers who were members of farmers’ groups, identify the benefits derived from their membership and examine the level of control of women in the farmers- groups. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 142 respondents across the 315 registered crop-based farmers’ group in Kwara State. Data were obtained by the use of a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were used to analyse data collected. The result reveal that women farmers in the study area were middle-aged (Mean age=49.6years), poorly schooled (majority at primary level), with about 22years of farming experience on the average. The most important benefit derived from membership of farmer- groups was improved access to agricultural information (M.S=3.4). The level of control of women in farmer- groups was low (Mean score=2.21) and significantly influenced by age, annual income, level of education and farm size at p

References:

Adereti, F. O. (2005). Rural Women’s Access to and Control over Productive Resources: Implications for Poverty Alleviation among Osun-State Rural Women, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology 18(3). Pp. 225-230.

Adisa, B. O. And Okunade, E. O. (2005). Women in Agriculture and Rural Development. Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria Proceeding, 2005.

Ajah, J. (2010). Participation of Women in Households’ farm production decision-making in South Eastern Nigeria in Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN). Proceedings the 44^th Annual Conference held at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and Oyo State Nigeria. 18th–22^nd October Pp. 367.

Ajala M.K., Gefu J.O., Okaaito P.O., (2003). Socio-economic factors influencing small ruminant management practices in Giwa Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Proceedings of Nigeria Society for Animal Production, 28(2): 432-435

Akangbe, J. A., Ogunyinka, W., Ayanda, I. F., Achem, B. and Adisa, R. S (2012). An Assessment of Effects of Fadama II Project On Livelihood of Farmers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1):27-32.

Ayinde, O.E, Abduolaye T., Olaoye, G., Akangbe, J.A. (2013). Gender and Innovation in Agriculture: A Case Study of Farmers’ Varietal Preference of Drought Tolerant Maize in Southern Guinea Savannah Region of Nigeria. Albanian Journal of Agricultural Science 12(4). Pp. 617-625.

Bosc, P., Eychenne M., Hussen K., Losch, B., Mercoiret, M.R., Rondot, P., and Walker. S.M., (2002). The Role of Rural Producer Organizations in the World Bank Rural Development Strategy. The World Bank Rural Development Family: Rural Development Strategy, Background Paper. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Bushra, A. and Wajiha. N. (2015). “Assessing Socio-Economic Determinant of Women Empowerment in Pakistan”. Procedia-Social Behavioral Sciences. 177:3-8.

Catholic Relief Services (2012). Considering gender in farmers groups: Acase study from Madagascar. Catholic Relief Services CRS, Baltimore, USA.

Jeiyol E.N, Akpan S.B, Tee, T.N (2013). Gender Analysis of Access to Credit by Rural Small-Scale Farmers in Benue State Nigeria. American International Journal of Social Science, 2(6), Pp. 70-78.

Mohammed, B. T. & Abdulquadri, A. F. (2012). Comparative analysis of gender involvement in agricultural production in Nigeria. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics 4(8), Pp. 240-244. DOI: 10.5897/JDAE11.034

National Population Commission (NPC) 2006. Nigerian Census Figures for States and Federal Capital Territory.

Nwaobiala, C. U., Isiocha, S. C. and Nwachukwu, K. (2009). Adoption of Cassava Post Harvest Technologies by Women in Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the 23^rd Annual Conference of Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN) Held at Abuja 20th-23^rd October Pp 670-672.

Ofuoku, A. U. and Urang, E. (2009). Effect of cohesion on loan repayment in farmers’ cooperative societies in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 1(4), 070 – 076.

Ogunlela Y.I. and Mukhtar A.A. (2009). Gender Issues in Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria: The Role of Women. Humanity and Social Sciences Journal 4 (1): Pp.19-30. ISSN 1818-4960.

Ololade R.A. and Olagunju F.I (2013). Determinants of Access to Credit among Rural Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences.  13(2). Pp. 17-22.

Oluwatayo I.B. (2015). Healthcare service delivery system and households’ welfare status in urban Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 50: 181-187.

Omotesho, K. F., Muhammad-Lawal, A., Jimoh, O., Olaghere I.L., and Abdulraheem, N. M. (2017). Determinants of Women Empowerment in Rural Households in Kwara State, Nigeria. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology 18(2). Pp. 269-277.

Rahji, M. A. Y and Fakayode S.A., (2009). A Multinomial Logit analysis of Agricultural Credit Rationing by Commercial Banks in Nigeria. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics 1(24). Pp. 90-100.

Rahman, S.A., Gabriel, J., Marcus.  N.D.  (2004). Gender differentials in labour, contribution and productivity in farm production. Empirical evidence from Kaduna State of Nigeria. Paper presented at the National Conference on Family at Makurdi, Nigeria. 1st-5th March 2004.