An Assessment of Women’s Participation in Rice Production in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract . The study assessed women’s participation in rice production in Lavun LGA of Niger state. Primary data were collected from the farmers with the aid of questionnaire and interview schedule. Fifty respondents were randomly selected from 5 villages and data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results indicated that women are involved in all rice production activities with rice processing ranking as first while weeding ranked as ninth. Findings also revealed that husbands/ relatives (52%) and families (56%) are the major sources of farm land and labour to the respondents respectively. The respondents identified processing, storage and marketing as their major areas of training needs. Further analysis shows that labour, purchased inputs and extension contact had positive and significant (P< 0.05) relationship with rice output. Based on the findings, it was suggested that more extension services should be rendered. Furthermore, the paper drew attention to the need to provide more purchased inputs to women rice farmers, in order to achieve the much needed increase in rice output and ensure food security as well as poverty alleviation in the area and nation at large.