ANALYSIS OF GENDER DIFFERENTIAL IN RESOURCE UTILISATION AND EFFICIENCY OF STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN PLATEAU STATE NIGERIA
ANALYSIS OF GENDER DIFFERENTIAL IN RESOURCE UTILISATION AND EFFICIENCY OF STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN PLATEAU STATE NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021-02
Authors
ELISHA, Washan Jamok
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The study evaluates gender differential in resource utilization and efficiency of
strawberry production in Plateau State Nigeria. Primary data for the study were collected
using structured questionnaire, administered to 182 female and 116 male strawberry
farmers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cost-benefit analysis
and stochastic frontier production function. Results of the study indicated that the average
age were 37 and 34 years for female and male farmers respectively. About 76% of female
farmers and 85.3% of male strawberry farmers were married. The average household size
for the two groups was 4 members per household. More than half of both groups of
strawberry farmers had between 1 and 10 years of farming. The result revealed that
83.2% of female farmers and 87% of male farmers had formal education in the study
area. The average score on land areas (𝜘͞ =4.04) obtained for male is an indication of
supporting the statement of male and female having equal access to land, while female
farmers strongly disagreed (𝜘͞ =1.37) to the statement. Land ownership increase social
status had a score of (𝜘͞ =4.18) and (𝜘͞ =4.22) for both male and female respectively. In
terms of access to fertilizer, seed and agrochemical was agreed by both male and female
having equal access to these productive resources. The result shows that female farmers
disagreed that male and female had equal access to labour (𝜘͞ =1.88). The female farmers
mentioned labour to be expensive to hire and lack of funds to hire adequate labour.
Among the male farmers, the mean score of (𝜘͞ =3.51) signifies agreement to the
statement; of male and female having equal access to labour. The mean score of ( 𝜘͞
=1.91) and (𝜘͞ =1.87) obtained from the scale indicate that both male and female farmers
do not agree to men and female had access to credit. Determinants of technical
inefficiency in female and male strawberry production in Plateau State revealed that age of the farmer was positive and significant at 10% for male farmers. Year of education
showed a negative relation with technical inefficiency and is significant at 5% level for
female and 10% for male. Household size showed a negative relation with predicted
technical inefficiency and is significant at 5% level for male strawberry farmers. It is
evident here that, the two strawberry producers did not reach the frontier of production
with a technical efficiency of 0.68 for female and 0.51 for male. Age, education and
household size are major socio-economic determinant of technical efficiency for both
female and male strawberry producers. The most severe problems encountered in
strawberry production are excess rainfall, insect, bird and disease. This constraint
constitutes serious impediments to strawberry production and need to be addressed
adequately before strawberry production can be improved in the study area. It is
recommended that agro-based industries and non-governmental organization should be
encouraged by the local government to support research and production of strawberry
products for commercial purposes.
Description
A DESERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE
DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
ANALYSIS,, GENDER DIFFERENTIAL,, RESOURCE UTILISATION,, EFFICIENCY,, STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION,, PLATEAU STATE,, NIGERIA