Intensity Of Agricultural Labour Use By Gender In Rural Households Of Imo State

Abstract

This study was designed to analyze the intensity of agricultural labour use by gender and its determinants in rural households of Imo State. Data were collected with structured questionnaire from 60 male and 60 female headed households, and analysed using means, frequency distribution, percentages and ordinary least squares multiple regression model. The amount of labour use per hectare was estimated at about 186.5 mandays and 203. 7 mandays for male and female farmers respectively. Determinants of labour use intensity by gender were labour requirements for land preparation, labour required for planting, labour required for weeding, labour required for harvesting type of tools used, timing of farm operations, length of fallow period, difference in income between farm and non-farm products, state of infrastructure and labour according to type of crop mixture. There is need to develop labour saving technologies to achieve increased food crops outputs and farm income in Imo State. Keywords: intensity, agricultural labour, gender, rural households JOAFSS Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 51-59