Analysis of Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusiveness on Access to Productive Resources: Evidence from Smallholder Farming Households In tudun wada lga.

ABSTRACT This study examined gender mainstreaming and inclusiveness in access to productive resources among smallholder farmers in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State, using the Harvard Analytical Framework. Specifically, it analyzed the gendered division of labor, disparities in access to and control over productive resources, and the socio-cultural, economic, political, and institutional factors influencing these disparities. Data were collected from 70 smallholder farmers through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The results revealed significant gender-based inequalities. Men dominated key productive activities such as land preparation (70%), plowing (83%), and fertilizer application (77%), while women were more involved in weeding (70%), irrigation (61%), and packaging (74%). Only 20% of women participated in farming-related decision-making. Access to critical resources also reflected disparities: just 16% of women had access to credit compared to 40% of men, and only 7% had access to extension services compared to 33% of men. Control over land, inputs, markets, and credit was also skewed in favor of men. Socio-cultural norms, such as discriminatory inheritance practices and community beliefs about women’s roles, alongside economic constraints, policy gaps, and institutional bias, were identified as key factors contributing to these disparities. The study concludes that addressing gender inequality in agriculture requires targeted interventions. Recommendations include promoting land reforms, expanding women’s access to credit and training, implementing gender-responsive extension services, ensuring inclusive cooperatives, and engaging communities to transform harmful gender norms.