GENDER ANALYSIS ON SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) PRACTICES PARTICIPATION IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined gender analysis on system of rice intensification (SRI) practices participation in Kano State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 400 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that, seed bed preparation (87.1%), seed selection (85.3%) and marketing (78.3%) were the major activities participated by the male farmers. However, the results also shows that 85.1% and 84.2% of the female farmers participated in seed selection and seed bed preparation, respectively. The results also indicated that 32.8% of the male farmer’s sourced their seed from previous harvest; 20.8% from family members, 20.0% from fellow farmers (20.0%), while 34.5% the of the female farmers sourced their seeds from previous harvests. The result further revealed that majority (66.4%) of the male and (71.9%) of the female farmers practiced nursery transplanting. More than half (55.2%) of the male and a reasonable proportion (47.4%) of the female farmers used both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Furthermore, transplanting younger seedlings, transplanting single seedling and transplanting in wider spacing had high participation with 79.02%, 79.37% and 99.65% among the male farmers and 70.18%, 74.56% and 100.00% among the female farmers, respectively. The results of factors militating against farmer’s participation in SRI practices revealed that Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) sampling adequacy test mediocre of 0.50. Similarly, Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (BTS) which is significant (p˂ 0.01) revealed that there had been a relationship among the variables. Five factors with eigenvalue greater than one were identified as constraints to participation in SRI practices using Kaiser Criterion. The study concluded that there are gender differences and similarities in participation in System of Rice Intensification (SRI) practices in the study area with both male and female farmers actively involved in key stages such as seed bed preparation, seed selection, and transplanting. The study recommended improving access to high-quality certified seeds and strengthening gender-sensitive extension services with practical training on best practices.