Evaluation of Activities of Women - in - Agriculture in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria
Date
2016-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Agricultural Education, The College of Education, Lanlate, Oyo State
Abstract
Introduction; Objectives of the study; Methodology; Results and Discussion; Conclusion; Recommendations; References.
Description
In Nigeria, agricultural extension services and supports have traditionally been focused on men and their production needs despite the fact that women make up 60 to 80 percent of the agricultural labour force and produce two third of the food crops. Unfortunately, more than two-third of the world poorest who relied solely on agriculture and related activities are women, despite their role in agriculture. Based on this premise this survey was conducted to determine the activities of women – in – agriculture in Ibarapa East Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State, Nigeria, with the intention of identifying reasons and constraints to their active participation. Purposive sampling of 120 women in agriculture was carried out. The results obtained from the survey revealed that major constraints to women active participation in agriculture, in order of their importance, were non-access to finance, Fulani herdsmen menace, high cost of farm inputs, unpredictable weather and inadequate extension support services. The study also showed that majority of the respondents engaged in agriculture purposely to provide foods for their families and to earn income for household sustenance. Hence, the paper recommended that empowering women farmers by governments and philanthropists at all tiers will result in socio-economic improvement of the community as they channel their renewed empowerment and income to educating their children and household sustenance.