GENDER ANALYSIS OF FARMING HOUSEHOLDS'ACCESS TO LIVELIHOOD RESOURCES IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study analyzed rural farming households' access to livelihood resources along gender lines in selected Local Government Areas of Niger State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the rural farming household along gender lines; examine their access to livelihood resources; determine the factors influencing access to livelihood resources along gender lines and examine the constraints associated with accessing livelihood resources. Three-stage sampling procedure was used to select 130 rural farming household heads (67 male and 63female). Semi-structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule was used to obtain primary data which was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Probit regression model. The results revealed that majority (71.7%) of the males were between 41-50 years of age with a mean of 46 years, while 47.6% of the females were in the age range of 41-50 years with a mean of 44 years. More so, 71.6%and 63.5% of the males and females farming households respectively, had household size of 1 - 5 people with mean of 6 persons. Majority (82.1%) of the males farming households had access to farmlands, while most (68.7%) of the females had no access to farmlands. In addition, more than half(56.7%) of the males had access to communication facilities, while 55.6% of the females had no access. Probit regression analysis revealed age of the males (0.0466; P<0.05), cooperative membership (1.6684;P<0.01) and annual income (-2.83e-06;P<0.10) to be positive and significant. In the same vein, age of the females (0.1429; P<0.01), cooperative membership (1.8387; P<0.05) and annual income (5.55e-06;P<0.10) were positive and significant, while marital status (-0.4836; P<0.05) was negative and significant. Poor credit and unfavorable government policy were the most serious constraints faced by the rural farming households along gender lines in the study area. The study recommended that government and other relevant stakeholders should provide the rural households with credit at subsidized rate to enable them enhance their livelihood. Favorable government policies should be put in place that can improvelivelihood of the rural households in the study area.