ANALYSIS OF RURAL WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN RICE PROCESSING UNDER IFAD-VCDP IN BIDA AND WUSHISHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the economic analysis of women participation in rice processing under IFAD-VCDP in Bida and Wushishi LGAs of Niger State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of rice processors under IFAD-VCDP, determine the profitability of rice processors under IFAD-VCDP, determine the extent of women participation in rice processing under IFAD-VCDP, examine the factors influencing the extent of women participation in rice processing under IFAD-VCDP and examine the constraint associated with women participation in rice processing under IFAD-VCDP. One hundred twenty eight respondents were randomly selected from two (2) LGAs with IFAD-VCDP intervention which are (Wushishi and Bida LGAs). Descriptive statistics, farm budgeting tool and ordered probit regression model were used to analyze the data collected. Study showed that majority of the respondents were within the age bracket of 31-50 years with the mean of 46, The analysis further revealed that majority of them were married. About 46.9% of them had no formal education, while 53.1% have one form of education or the other. The results from cost and returns analysis revealed that The average variable cost, average fixed cost and average net farm income per processing cycle were ₦53,580.43, ₦41,059.05 and ₦633, 342.43, respectively which implies that rice processing under IFAD-VCDP was profitable in the study area. And the rate of return on investment is 12.59, implying that for every N1invested, there was a return of N59 kobo. The results from the Probit regression revealed that age, and access to training were significant at (p≤ 0.05), while income, credit and member of cooperative household size, were significant at level (p≤ 0.01) with Pseudo R2 value of 0.7296. Results from the study also showed that the constraint associated with respondent were found to be inadequate power supply, high cost of start-up capital, lack of technical knowledge and processing facilities for producing good quality milled rice grains, poor transportation system, the respondents also ascribed the situation of non-availability of loans due to their inability to provide collaterals as constraints to rice processing in the study area. Therefore, it was concluded that majority of the respondents were married, rice processing under IFAD-VCDP was profitable and extent of women participation was high based on the findings therefore it is recommended for the Government to provide improved technologies for the processors, respondent should also be encouraged to go into rice processing in the study area.