ANALYSIS OF GENDER ROLES IN GOAT PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analyzed gender roles in goat production management in some selected Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 143 goat farmers. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, logit regression and Harvard analysis. The findings revealed the mean age of 44.3 years for men and 38.6 years for women with mean household size of 11 people for both genders and mean herd size of 12 and 11 goats for male and female, respectively. The findings further revealed that annual income (P>0.009), herd size (P>0.026) and extension contact (P>0.084) had positive influence to goat production activities among the male goat farmers while annual income (P>0.012) and herd size (P>0.029) had positive influence for goat production activities among the female goat farmers. However, the coefficient of household size (P>-0.082 and -0.200) was negative and significant for both male and female goat farmers, respectively. Harvard analysis reported that 76-100% male farmers were involved more on barn construction, fodder collection, medication and goat marketing; while female goat farmers were involved more on feeding and water provision as revealed by 76-100%. Both genders were involved in cleaning of barn; but male have more control over the resources in goat management. Pest and disease problem (70.1% and 68.2%), feed shortages (26% and 47%) and limited capital (29.9% and 34.8%) were the main constraints faced by goat farmers. The study concluded that goat production was not gender sensitive. It was recommended that goat farmers should be encouraged to form cooperatives and pool their resources together to facilitate easy access to credit, extension agencies need to extend their services to all goat farmers in respective of gender and the need for improvement in veterinary services to curtail the problem of pest and diseases.