ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN INVOLVEMENT IN ARABLE CROP PRODUCTION IN EPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated women’s involvement in arable crop production in Epe Local Government, Lagos State. Using a simple random sampling technique, 120 respondents were sampled and interviewed for the study.  Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC). Majority of the women were involved in production of vegetables (=1.80±0.54), maize production (=1.71±0.50), Pepper production (=1.68±0.51), Okra production (=1.58±0.63), and tomato production (=1.31±0.68). Personal sourcing (=1.58±0.75), family (=1.30±0.70) and friends (=1.00±0.87) were the major sources of inputs available to respondents, The sources of information most accessible to the respondents were radio = 1.77±0.60, television = 1.68±0.65 and internet = 1.56±0.77. Inadequate credit (=1.59±0.57), lack of training opportunity (=1.27±0.84), lacThe study investigated women’s involvement in arable crop production in Epe Local Government, Lagos State. Using a simple random sampling technique, 120 respondents were sampled and interviewed for the study.  Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC). Majority of the women were involved in production of vegetables (=1.80±0.54), maize production (=1.71±0.50), Pepper production (=1.68±0.51), Okra production (=1.58±0.63), and tomato production (=1.31±0.68). Personal sourcing (=1.58±0.75), family (=1.30±0.70) and friends (=1.00±0.87) were the major sources of inputs available to respondents, The sources of information most accessible to the respondents were radio = 1.77±0.60, television = 1.68±0.65 and internet = 1.56±0.77. Inadequate credit (=1.59±0.57), lack of training opportunity (=1.27±0.84), lack of market (=1.27±0.73) and inadequate labour (=1.19±0.80) were the major constraints faced by respondents. There was a significant relationship between Sourcing of planting materials (χ² = 14.112; p = 0.008), fertilizer application (χ² = 13.703; p = 0.003) and marital status of respondents. Significant (χ² = 0.145; p = 0.004) association existed between respondents’ age and bush clearing. The study concluded that respondents were actively involved in the production of vegetables, maize, pepper, okra and tomatoes. It is recommended that programmes providing better access to credit, agricultural training and pest management should be developed and tailored to meet the needs of female farmers.k of market (=1.27±0.73) and inadequate labour (=1.19±0.80) were the major constraints faced by respondents. There was a significant relationship between Sourcing of planting materials (χ² = 14.112; p = 0.008), fertilizer application (χ² = 13.703; p = 0.003) and marital status of respondents. Significant (χ² = 0.145; p = 0.004) association existed between respondents’ age and bush clearing. The study concluded that respondents were actively involved in the production of vegetables, maize, pepper, okra and tomatoes. It is recommended that programmes providing better access to credit, agricultural training and pest management should be developed and tailored to meet the needs of female farmers.