ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL DYNAMICS AMONG GROUNDNUT FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN THE TROPICAL LEGUME PROJECT STATES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined gender differences and social dynamics in groundnut producing communities in Nigeria with a view to understanding the adoption process, enhance programme targeting and ensure equitable access to improve groundnut production technologies among male and female groundnut farmers. Using a survey approach and Focus Group Discussion tool, male and female groups were selected from 3-4 communities/villages in 3-4 local government areas from Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi States in tropical legume project states in Nigeria and interviewed. The result showed that female and male members of the groundnut farming households exhibit diverse and dynamic social relations. Average age of males was 45 years and females was 40 years with farming being the main occupation for both males and females but with females having agricultural processing as a second major occupation. Access to land is by inheritance for both men and women farmers but there is differential access to other farm inputs, key decisions on household resource control and utilization of revenue from farm. Understanding the dynamism of the gender relationships in terms of who takes decisions concerning access to farm resources such as land, variety of crops and types of seed to plant, contribution of harvest for home use and to market and control of income from sale of produce as well as provision for healthcare, education and other social welfare of the household will go a long way in designing policies to close the gender gap. It was recommended that the men should facilitate access to farm inputs to boost female groundnut production, encourage them to decide on their choice of variety to cultivate and take control of the use of income from its production.