ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN GROUNDNUT PRODUCTION IN HAWUL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed women participation in groundnut production in Hawul local government area of Borno State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in drawing 100 respondents for this study. Information was collected using structured questioners. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data, description statistics used include: frequencies, means and percentages, the inferential statistics used was multiple regression model. The farm size of women in groundnut production where that majority (54%) had less than 5ha, 23% had 9 to 12ha, 12% had 9 to 12ha and 9% had 13 to 16ha. The cultivated/ yield of groundnut produced by women where majority of 51% obtained 6 to 10 bags of unshelled groundnut, 37% gained11 to 15 bags, 12% had 1 to 5 bags. Farming experience was found out to be 45% had 9 to 12 years, 25% had 4 to 8 and the least 7% had 17 years and above. It was discovered that 78% had no extension contact, 22% had no access. For access to credit, 69% had access to credit and 31 had no access. The participation of women in ground nut production were accessed and presented in percentages and also ranked. It was gathered that; seed sorting, storage of harvested groundnut, land clearing was having the highest participation (78, 76 and 74) (1st 2nd and 3rd). The least where marketing, oil extraction and value addition (48, 45 and 43) (10th, 11th and 12th). The most problem faced by women in groundnut production where; gender biasness in accessing loan, societal setbacks, restricting accessing to farm land (97, 96, and 95) (1st 2nd and 3rd). The least problem faced where; climate change, poor extension services and theft (96, 72 and 68) (8th 9th and 10th). All the socio-economic variable were positive and significant at P≤0.01 and P≤0.05. Young women constituted the majority of women in groundnut production. It was recommended that government should create an avenue where the groundnut farmers can receive financial support; Access to credit and access to extension where very poor; and policy makers should provide adequate credit facilities and access to extension.