ASSESSMENT OF LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION ACTIVITIES AMONG WOMEN CROP FARMERS IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the livelihood diversification activities among women crop farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 416 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that mean age of the respondents was 34 years. Majority (76.2%) of the respondents were married with a mean household size of 4 persons. The result also showed that 44.2% of the respondents had secondary education while more than half (56.3%) had a mean farm size of 1.6ha. Majority (77.4%) of the respondents moderately diversified their livelihoods. Fashion designing (2.40), sales of provision (2.37), water, vegetables and bakery (2.39) were recorded to be the major types of livelihood diversification as indicated by mean values. The study concluded that women crop farmers in the study area moderately diversified their livelihood activities. In view of that the study recommended that, women crop farmers should be properly empowered by stakeholders, private and non-governmental organizations on ways to increase income and exposure to more diversification opportunities.