Gender analysis of sweet potato production: the case of farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this study is to examine the gender participation in sweet potato production (SPP) among farmers in Delta State. Material and Methods: Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 131 respondents, comprising 73 male and 58 female sweet potato farmers. The data were obtained between October and December in 2019. Data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-test, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression. Results: The results indicated that male and female farmers were at an age of 39.5±8.9 years old and 41.9±11.1 years old, respectively. Household sizes for male and female were 9±6 persons and 8±4 persons, respectively. Most male- (95.9%) and female- (81.0%) were formally educated. Men participated more in planting (x ̅=2.62), while women participated more in marketing (x ̅=2.91). The level of participation in SPP was high and low among more than half of the male- (56.2%) and female- (55.2%), respectively. Flooding was the highest constraint to SPP faced by male (x ̅=1.93) and female (x ̅=1.90).There was no significant difference between male and female level of participation in SPP (t=0.92;p>0.05), and constraints to SPP (t=0.74;p>0.05).Household size (β=-0.46); and education, household size and being married (r=0.26, 0.26, and β=4.19) significantly influenced male and female participation in SPP, respectively. Conclusion: Household size influenced men participation in SPP while education, household size and marriage enhanced women participation in SPP.