WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE: THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (ADP) IN KOGI STATE

WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE: THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (ADP) IN KOGI STATE

ABSTRACT

The study assessed Women Participation in Agriculture: The Role and Impact of Kogi State Agricultural Development Project (KADP) with five objectives: to examine social demographic characteristics of women farmers in Kogi State; to evaluate the extent of Women participation in agricultural production in Kogi State; to identify constraints that women face in their participation in agriculture in Kogi State; to investigate the impact of KADP on women participation in agriculture since its inception; and to proffer other policy options that can enhance the role of KADP in mainstreaming women participation in agriculture in Kogi State. Modernization theory was used as the basis for the analysis of the study. The theory identified some social variables, which contribute to social progress and development of certain societies and explain the importance of assistance to some social sects towards development in modern trajectory. Questionnaire, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were employed for data collection necessary for the study in which 250 women farmers were purposively sampled. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected in addition to chi square statistics used to evaluate the significance of the responses. The study found that farming undertakings to be the activities of the youth and the adults. The study also found that KADP has been making positive impact in mainstreaming women into agriculture in the study area through its programmes: formation of women farmers group and Women in Agriculture. However, poor access to farm machinery and market are the main problems being faced by the sampled women in the study area. The study therefore concluded that sampled women were significantly participating in agriculture in the study area and recommended the establishment of contract/out-growing farming system in order to ensure consistent and steady farm outputs prices and machinery supply.

WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE: THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (ADP) IN KOGI STATE