Status and Participation of Women Farmers in Farm Household Income Generation and Management in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria
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5th International Conference on Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences (ICHESS'2015) August 16-17, 2015 Bali (Indonesia) Status and Participation of Women Farmers in Farm Household Income Generation and Management in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria *Osondu, Charles Kelechi and Ijioma, John Chinasa understanding of gender issues in management of rural farm Abstract—The study determined status and participation of households is a necessary condition for agricultural women farmers in farm household income generation and development. Women farmers contribute significantly to management in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area (LGA) of household welfare. Recognition of the role played by women Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: farmers in rural farm household management is important in describe socio-economic characteristics of women in farm developing countries like Nigeria where the major concern is households; identify types of income generation sources available to women in farm households; compute the range of income managed to boost rural economies and sustain adequate food supplies. by women; examine women involvement in farm household income In Africa most rural households rather than being nuclear management; determine factors that influenced farm household family are usually extended with more individual production income management by women and identify the problems militating and consumption units embedded within it [2]. Women in each against earning and managing income by women in farm households unit have some responsibilities independent of the household in the study area. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to to feed, clothe or educate the children in the unit. The women select 70 farm households from the study area. Data were collected are also responsible for other needs or all family needs during using semi structured questionnaire that was personally administered. certain periods [3]. In most cases they fulfill this responsibility Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and probit regression with an income got from farming activities. The separate model. The result of the analyses showed that women in farm households derived income from farming which accounted for activity of income and expenditure management by women is a 56.69% of annual total income. Crop farming was subsistence in unique feature in rural farm households. Husbands and wives nature and was by far the most important single source of income for sometimes lend money to each other at rates slightly less than the women, providing about 32.70% of total income of women in prevalent interest rate or pay themselves wages for services farm households. 37.14% of women managed between N21, 000 to rendered in the household. The household is seen as a joint N40, 000. 40.00% of the women took decision on household firm rather than a unitary entity in which wife’s budget is expenditure budget. The probit regression analysis revealed that age, distinct from her husband’s. employment status and farm income of women were positive In Nigeria, income generation and management vary within significant determinants of farm household income management at different farm households. According to [4] women varied alpha levels, while, spouse educational level was the only negative but significant determinant of the dependent variable at responsibilities associated with farming and reproductive 5.0% alpha level. We recommend that Government should motivate functions are increasing. Women are heads of 25 percent to 35 women to enroll in training programmes in order to improve their percent of households [5]. Their husbands are always away for involvement in income generating activities and management to long periods making it necessary for the women to make improve their standard of living and also enhance their productivity economic decisions alone. within the farm households in the country. Within the household structure, decision making status may be influenced by personal wealth, access to resources of other Keywords— Women, status, Income management, farm family members, type of household head and cultural household preferences, particularly in patriarchal societies [6]. The focus of household decision-making is determined by who controls I. INTRODUCTION and allocates economic resources within the family. A change GRICULTURE is a major source of livelihood to the rural in income generating capacity of partners precipitates a change A households, generating employment opportunities, source in household decision-making prerogatives [6]. Household’s of food and a major facilitator for income [1]. An leadership structure is classified into two: male headed and female headed households. Female headed households are Kelechi Charles Osondu lectures in Department of Agricultural Economics further disaggregated into de jure and de facto female headed and Extension, Abia State University uturu, Umuahia Campus PMB 7010, households. The first arises in households headed by widows Abia State Nigeria (+2347037400876; e-mail: [email protected]). John Chinasa Ijioma is an Asso. Prof in Department of Agricultural or unmarried, separated or divorced women. The latter occurs Economics and Extension, Abia State University uturu, Umuahia Campus in households headed by females following migration or PMB 7010, Abia State Nigeria (e-mail: [email protected]). illness of the male head. Widowed and single parent heads 11 5th International Conference on Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences (ICHESS'2015) August 16-17, 2015 Bali (Indonesia) make all decisions on income generation and management Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area has 53 autonomous affairs of the household. Good as these household structures communities. The LGA has distinct wet and dry seasons, may be, women confront several risks and experience which characterize its humid tropical climate, with the dry uncertainties in their farming operations. Most farms at the end season extending from November to March. The state has an of the season do not realize the expected yield and income annual mean temperature of about 270-300c and a relative from output for reasons of pests and diseases, damages arising humidity ranging from 70% to 80%, with January to march as from poor product handling, storage problem and the likes. the hottest months. The people are largely farmers growing This affects the income generation in the households and this yams, cassava, cocoyam, maize, melon, garden egg, okra, oil have led to lower standard of living and denied access to palm, cocoa, fruits and vegetables. Animals reared are Sheep, investment. Goats, Cattle, Pigs and Poultry. Some prominent markets in In many co-gender headed households, women most times the area include Orie-altigha, Orie-Ukwu Amaorji, Obikabia work for the men who earn the incomes, take decisions and Modern Market, Nkwo-Ebe and Nbawsi township market. spend the income with the women simply making requests for money for household upkeep. This condition has left the B. Sampling Technique women dependents and minors on household money control Multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted in this and uses. This is a case of gender imbalance in household study. financial management. Stage I: Five autonomous communities were selected A starting point for determining the extent of women’s randomly from the 53 autonomous communities in the LGA. participation in agriculture and household welfare is the The selected autonomous communities are Ahiaba Ubi, gender division of labour and household work as to who does Amachi, Eziala-Nsulu, Ikputu and Umuekpe. what in household’s income, savings and management of Stage II: Two villages were selected randomly from each of financial resources. For a woman who is a household head, all the five communities to give ten villages. income earned and financial expenses made would have to be Stage III: In the final stage seven farm households were solely accounted for by her, hence her personal cash flow selected randomly from each chosen village. This gave seventy (income earning and management) becomes complex. This farm households from which seventy women were chosen as special feature of women’s role in income generation and respondents. management is worth investigating. It is on this premise that C. Method of Data Collection this study is predicated to investigate position of women farmers in generation of farm income and its management in Primary data was gathered and used in this study. Semi- Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. State. The overall purpose of the study is to determine the collected Data include socio-economic characteristics of the status and participation of women in farm household income respondents, participation status of women in household and management in Isiala-Ngwa North of Abia State, Nigeria. financial management. The questionnaire was pre-tested and Specifically the study sought to: (i) describe socio-economic standardized before its administration by personal interview of women in farm households; (ii) identify types of income method. Pre-testing was done by issuing fifteen (15) sample generation sources available to women in farm households in questionnaires to each community. This was to test the the study area; (iii) compute the proportion and component of farmers’ ability to understand and answer the question. farm household