Gender Analysis of Farmers' Participation in Dry Season Vegetable Production in Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

The participation of both male and female farmers in dry season vegetable production is important to meeting the demand for vegetables and also nutrient security in Nigeria. Gender inequalities frequently prevent farmers from fully engaging in this agricultural endeavor, despite the growing significance of dry season vegetable production in meeting nutritional and economic needs. This study carried out a gender analysis of farmers’ participation in dry season vegetable production in Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of male and female dry season vegetable farmers, assessed the knowledge level of male and female farmers on dry season vegetable production, determined the level of male and female farmers’ involvement in dry season vegetable production, identified reasons for participation of male and female farmers in the dry season vegetable production, assessed the level of access of each gender to agricultural production resources and identified the constraints to participation in the dry season vegetable production among male and female farmers in Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State. The hypotheses of the study were to investigate the differences in male and female vegetable farmers’ access to agricultural production resources; participation in dry season vegetable production; and knowledge level of dry season vegetable farmers. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 155 dry season vegetable farmers which consist of both male and female from which data was collected with the use of an interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Independence Sample t-Test.
The findings of the study shows that most of the respondents (52.26%) were male and (47.10%) were female. About 56.8% male and 60.3% females, had farming as their primary occupation. The result also revealed their mean age were 40.34 years for the male and 39.47 years for the female respondents. About 35.8% male and 21.9% female had no formal education. It was also revealed that the male had more knowledge about dry season vegetable with a mean of 79.91. Male farmers also participated more in dry season vegetable production with a mean of 3.23. Findings also showed that market demand, constant source of income and less labour intensive nature made the male and female participate in dry season vegetable production. Findings also showed that the male respondents had more access to agricultural resources with a mean score of 2.67 compared to the female mean score of 2.48. The major problem faced by the male and female respondents is lack of access to credit facilities with a mean score of 3.67 and 3.65, insufficient information from extension agent with a mean of 3.56 and 3.64 which the female had a higher score and inadequate training or technical knowledge about dry season vegetable production with a mean of 3.56 for both gender. This study concluded that the male participated more, had more knowledge and had more access to resources than the female in dry season vegetable production. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that there should be more access to credit facilities for both gender through loans from government and non-governmental organisations. There should be more information from the extension services through the extension agent which could help both male and female know more about dry season vegetable production. Also, there must be full and equal access to resources for both male and female dry season vegetable farmers so has to fully participate in the production of dry season vegetable. Furthermore, there must be trainings and workshop organized through the help of extension services for the male and female farmers to enhance their and knowledge and also male them participate more in dry season vegetable production.