The Role of Rural Women Farmers in Economic Development
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objective of this study are;
- To ascertain the role of women in economic development of Ovia North East Local Government Area in Edo State
- To identifying attendant problem and suggesting possible solution.
- To ascertain the relationship between rural women farmers and Nigeria economy
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Rural women in Nigeria, working twelve (12) or more hours a day, maintaining their homes, caring for their children, growing and preparing the food that nourishes our nation and earning the incomes that are critical to family welfare, are everyday making fundamental contributions to both economic growth and national development. Rural women produce as much as 80% of the food we eat. The Nigerian rural women are the chief source of agricultural labour yet the central victim of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, high fertility and maternal mortality rates. The result is progressive reduction in productivity and output. Majority of the rural women are not in agricultural food production by choice, they grew up into it as the only and natural role. Therefore, their work as mothers, wives and citizens have always been combined with essential economic roles as food producers, income earners and managers of personal and household budgets. They play their reproductive and nurturing roles and in addition engage in a wide range of agricultural and off farm and household activities. Rural women’s domestic chores include fetching water and firewood over long distances, washing, sweeping and pounding – all tedious and exhausting in an environment of dwindling food resources and increasing health hazards. Rural women are effective agents of community mobilization and social development. Rural women play a pivotal role in producing staple crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry and in food-processing storage and marketing.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the role of rural women farmers in economic development.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the role of rural women farmers in economic development. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of rural women farmers in economic development
Summary
This study was on the role of rural women farmers in economic development. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the role of women in economic development of Ovia North East Local Government Area in Edo State, to identifying attendant problem and suggesting possible solution and to ascertain the relationship between rural women farmers and Nigeria economy. The total population for the study is 200 women of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made married, single ladies, civil servants and students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Food sufficiency can only be guaranteed by continued gender involvement in agriculture. There is therefore, the need for an aggressive approach to ensure that gender participation in agriculture is at an increasing rate. Also, Government agricultural policies and programs should not be gender specific
Recommendation
Women involvement in agriculture is on the increase compared to men, therefore they should be given appropriate types of technology to cater for the labour intensive farm activities, good financial support and access to more farm land through appropriate land reforms. Farm inputs and other innovations should be available to women farmers at affordable and subsidized rates as and when needed. For food security, gender division of labour according to tasks should be discarded and there should be equity in every aspect of agricultural activities. Support systems for farmers within a holistic gender-sensitive framework are urgently needed to form a policy development agenda.
References
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- Akankpo, G.O. and Asa, U.A (2006): Gender Role in Maize Production in Ini L.G.A. Akwa Ibom State. Proceeding of 40th Annual Conference of ASN held at Umudike Pp 606 – 609.
- Annon, (2006): National Gender Policy; Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development printed by Amana printing limited Kaduna Pp 7-14.
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