Women and Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT A study was conducted in 1993 to determine the roles of Nigerian women in promoting sustainable agricultural production. Seventeen states selected from different agro-ecological zones of the country were involved. The results showed that over 90% of the women were involved in farming even in the traditionally Muslim states where purdah is still practiced. About 64% of this number were involved in only crop production, 48% in both crop and livestock production and only about 4% in just livestock production. Most of the women were involved in processing and marketing. With little control over their labour, rural women worked in both family and personal farms. The results also indicated that women fanners were actively involved in all cultural farming operations, although to a lesser extent in land clearing (12%) and land preparation (18.6%) in family farms. They were highly involved in planting, weeding, fertilizing, and totally responsible for processing, with little or no appropriate labour-saving devices and technologies to employ in these labour-demanding and time-consuming tasks. The rural women did not have adequate security for farming. The majority neither owned nor possessed land, did not have adequate funds for farming and those who engaged in paid jobs were paid less than men for the same piece of work. Although women now grow practically all crops including “male crops,” they were still not encouraged to grow tree crops so that they would not “feel” like land owners. Although women did most of the farm work, it was men that made decisions on what to grow and inputs to use. Men also controlled the proceeds from the family farms. Although women were willing to practice some techniques that encourage sustainable agriculture they did not have adequate knowledge about them. The paper concludes that the state of the act as it is presently does not encourage sustainable agricultural production. Ways of facilitating sustainable productions like giving women control over land and generally empowering them were suggested. These could help make farming integrated and resources used more effectively.