RURAL WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN FARM AND NON-FARM ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN KANKARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KATSINA STATE NIGERIA
RURAL WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN FARM AND NON-FARM ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN KANKARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KATSINA STATE NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2019-02
Authors
JIBRIN, Ladi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study was conducted mainly to examine the participation of rural women in farm and non-farm economic activities. The study was conducted in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. Specifically, the study identified types of farm and non-farm economic activities performed by women, determined the reasons for participation in farm and non-farm activities, assessed the contribution of farm and non-farm activities to women‟s income and welfare, assessed the perceived influence of selected factors on participation and identified the constraints to participation in farm and non-farm activities. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data collection involved the use of structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. A sample of 382 women was selected through systematic sampling technique. The data was processed, organized and presented with the help of descriptive statistical techniques such as; frequency counts, percentages, priority and rank order, means and standard deviation. Chi-square analysis was employed in assessing the impact of farm and non-farm activities participation on the welfare of rural women. The findings show that farm and non-farm economic activities carried out by the women were small scale and include production and marketing of groundnut cake (kuli-kuli), processing of groundnut oil, production and marketing of shea butter (mai kadanya), sale of vegetables, harvesting activities, livestock rearing, planting activities, post harvest activities, and poultry rearing. Others are petty marketing of vegetables, tiger nut drink (kunun-aya) and firewood. The respondents‟ annual income is generally low. The study also found that majority (51.3%) of the respondents had high level of participation in farm and non-farm activities, 33.2% had medium participation while 15.5% respondents had low participation in farm and non-farm activities. The study also evaluated the respondents‟ perceptions of the influence of selected factors (attitude, knowledge, opportunities and resources) on participation in farm and non-farm activities. The findings also revealed that rural women‟s participation in farm and non-farm economic activities are significantly influenced by these factors. The result of the Chi-square analysis indicates that farm and non-farm participation of women has significant effect on their welfare. As nine out of ten indicators were statistically significant at various degrees of freedom (p = 0.000 ≤ 0.05). However only improved credit worthiness produced a chi-square result (X2 = 1.377, p = 0.848 ≥ 0.05). The study therefore recommends provision of skills training and special credits schemes that address particular financial needs of women are necessary to encourage the undertaking of technical and higher return activities. Provision of credit schemes and linking them with financial institutions so as to acquire women friendly loans by the government to stimulate investment in the farm and non-farm sector is deemed necessary in order to provide rural people with access to capital investment to start sustainable, competitive and high return non-farm economic activities.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
RURAL WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION,, FARM AND NON-FARM ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES,, KANKARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, KATSINA STATE,, NIGERIA,