Gender analysis by participation in agro processing groups in North-Central, Nigeria

Abstract

The study conducted a gender analysis of group participation among agro-processing groups in Kwara and Niger States, Nigeria. A three-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents with a total of 573 arable crop processors selected. Structured interview schedule was designed, validated and tested for reliability before being administered to the respondents. Only 570 well-completed schedules were retrieved and analyzed. Frequency count, percentages, mean score, standard deviation and multiple regression were used to analyse the collected data. Findings revealed that aggregate participation in group activities was higher among male (mean= 4.08) compared to female (mean=3.30) with males ranking first and females second. Factors influencing male members’ participation included age (B=0.216), educational status (B=0.222) and household size (B=0.043) while female members were influence by age (B=0.127), educational level (B=0.220), and income (B=0.198). Male members faced challenges of high level such as family responsibility, significant group duties and difficulties in accessing credit facilities whereas female members encountered high level of family responsibility, greater access to and control over key processing factors and significant group duties. The study concluded that male agro-processors participated significantly more than their female counterparts. Consequently, the study therefore recommends that group extension programmes designed for agro-processing in the study area should include in training time management skills to mitigate delays in adopting of agro-processing innovations due to household responsibilities.