American Journal of Experimental Agriculture 6(5): 326-332, 2015, Article no.AJEA.2015.091 ISSN: 2231-0606

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An Assessment of Demographic Characteristics of Women Involvement on the Improved Methods of Groundnut Processing in Three (3) Local Government Areas of ,

U. Mohammed 1* and R. S. Olaleye2

1Niger State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, , Nigeria. 2Department of Agricultural Economic and Extension Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author UM designed the study, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author RSO reviewed the experimental design and all drafts of the manuscript. Authors UM and RSO performed the statistical analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Article Information

DOI: 10.9734/AJEA/2015/10957 Editor(s): (1) Moreira Martine Ramon Felipe, Department of the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Reviewers: (1) Anonymous, USA. (2) Anonymous, China. (3) Anonymous, Ghana. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history.php?iid=867&id=2&aid=7580

Received 18th April 2014 nd Original Research Article Accepted 2 September 2014 Published 31st December 2014

ABSTRACT

There is gender division of women in farm labour in Niger State. The gender division of women in farm labour assigns women more works in the processing of groundnut as Agricultural food products and yet, women have no access to improved methods of groundnut processing and depend mainly on the traditional methods the purpose of this study therefore were to determine the demographic characteristics of women involvement on the improved methods of groundnut processing in there (3) Local Government Areas of Niger State. Two specific objectives that guided the study are. 1. Examine the demographic characteristics of women involvement on the improved methods of groundnut processing in the study areas. Identify the constraints faced by women processors in the study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure were employed in the selection of the respondents. The first ______

*Corresponding author: Email: [email protected];

Mohammed and Olaleye; AJEA, 6(5): 326-332, 2015; Article no. AJEA.2015.091

state was purposive selection of Agricultural zone one of the State AMDA because of the high concentration of the respondents in the zone. This was followed by random selection of there (3) Local Government Areas (LGAs) from the zone which is equivalent to three AMDA Extension blocks. The third stage was random selection of four (4) extension cells from each of the Extension blocks, from an existing list of registered women groundnut processors Association (314) with sate AMDA, a total population samples size of 180 respondents was randomly selected. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data pertinent to the study with the help of Enumerators. Data were descriptively analyzed. Demographically, majority of the respondents were between the age distribution of 21-50 years and married, majority of the respondents in the study area had their household size of between 6-10 people. About 50% of the respondents had no access to formal education and 57% had 1-6 years in schooling. The result also revealed that about 32% of the respondents had 15-20 years of groundnut processing experience and about 55% of the respondents had their major occupation has full time processor. The recommendation made include need for the government and interested non government organization (NGOs) to provide credit facilities for respondents to enable them involved into improved methods of groundnut processing technologies.

Keywords: Assessment; demographic; women; involvement; methods; processing.

1. INTRODUCTION Agricultural food processing. They account for 100 percent for those who process agricultural In today’s digital age, the latest technologies food stuff [10] In Nigeria, women take part always reach the rural poor last in spite of recent actively in the groundnut processing activities in advances in communication and information addition to their domestic household technologies, Technical Centre for Agricultural responsibilities [11]. Women are said to be and Rural Cooperation [1]. Rural women are involved in over 95 percent of groundnut milling much less likely to have access to new activists in “Zone A” agro ecological area ( of agricultural technologies because they are Niger State). generally less educated and possess less economic and political power relative to their 2. PROBLEM STATEMENT men folk. In Nigeria, reports indicated that women play more important roles in agricultural The declaration of 1975-1985 as decades for processing compared to men [2]. While records women by member countries of the United further show that the agricultural labour force is Nations (UN) marked the beginning of made up of about 60-80 percent women recognition of gender issues in development depending on the region, and two thirds of the circle worldwide. This resulted in active foods crops is processed by the women [3], discussion among researchers policy makers, Despite these facts there still exists wide spread educationists and developmental partners on assumption that men and not women make the roles of women vis- a vis those of men [12]. This key management decisions [4]. As a result of led to the creation of Women In Agriculture (WIA) this, most extension activities targeted at women programme within the existing state Agricultural emphasize their domestic roles with topics such Development Projects (ADPs) and the as child care and family nutrition while excluding conversion of women home economists to activities involving agricultural processing. female Agricultural processors, all in an attempt to correct the gender related deficiencies and Basically, women are involved in the supply of recognition of the role play in extension and labour, processing of food crops and livestock processing of agricultural commodities. There is processing and transportation farm produce for gender division of women in farm labour in effective storage and marketing [5,6]. Despite the Nigeria, [13]. The gender division of women in high level of their involvement in agricultural farm labour assigns women more works in the processing activities such as groundnut processing of groundnut as agricultural food processing, they are inadequately recognized products and yet, women have no access to and undervalued [7,8,9] improved methods of groundnut processing and depend mainly on the traditional methods, due to Women’s role in groundnut processing is not a the constraints that are responsible for it, such as new phenomena. Their role is fundamental to poor electricity supply, lack of credit facilities, agricultural growth/ development especially via high purchasing price of technologies increase in

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price of petrol, poor processing equipments poor , , , and local quality of groundnut and absence of sustainable government Areas. policy for groundnut processing activities. All this constraints affect women processors involvement Niger state is divided in to three Agricultural of improved groundnut processing technologies. zones namely Ι, ΙΙ and ΙΙΙ for better Administration of agricultural activities each of these Agricultural 3. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES zones has their headquarters at Bida, Kuta and respectively. The Climate and The purpose of the study was to determine Ecological conditions of the state is favored with the demographic characteristics of women mean annual rain fall of 782-1250 mm and involvement on the improved methods of temperature is about 82ºC or 27.7ºC [16]. The groundnut processing in three (3) Local state has abundant wild vegetation of Shea trees Government Areas of Niger State. and dominated by small scale farmers. The major crops cultivated are millet, rice, maize, Specific objectives were to: guinea corn, beans, cassava, groundnuts and sweet potatoes. Majority of the famers keep 1. Examine the demographic characteristics livestock like poultry, goat and sheep. Other of women involvement on the improved engaged in crafts such as sculptures, weaving methods of groundnut processing in the and blacksmith [16]. About 85% of the population study areas. of the state are farmers, while 15% are involved 2. Identify the constraints faced by women in other vocation such as white collar jobs, processors in the study area. businesses, crafts and arts [16].

4. METHODOLOGY 4.2 Method of Data Collection and Sampling Procedure 4.1 Study Area The data used were obtained mainly from The study was conducted in , and primary sources, through the use of structure LGAs of Niger state. Niger state occupies questionnaires. With the help of enumerators. also north-central part of Nigeria, and shares The sampling method adopted for the study were common boundaries with North by Zanfara state, multi-stage sampling procedure techniques. The to the north east by kebbi state and north east first stage was purposive selections of and federal capital territory(FCT) bordered the Agricultural zone one of the state AMDA. This state to north east and south east. The state also was followed by random selection of three (3) shares a common international boundary with the Local Government Areas (LGAs) from the zone republic of Benin along Newbussa, Aguara and which is equivalent to three AMDA extension Wushishi local government Areas. The state is blocks. located in the north central savannah of the vegetation zones between latitudes 8º and 11ºN The third stage was random selection of four (4) and longitudes 3ºE and 7ºE of the prime extension cells from each of the extension meridian [14]. blocks, giving a total sampling size of 180 women processors used in the study area. Population of Niger state is the largest in Nigeria with a total land mass representing about 9.3 5. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUE percent of the total land mass of the country. The population of the state was 3,950,429 in 2006 Analysis of the data was done using descriptive [15]. The bureau of statistics has maintained an statistics which include measure of central approximate population growth rate of 2.5% tendency such as means, percentage, table and geometrically. Based on that, the projected frequency distribution. population in 2012 was estimated to be 4,883,036. The state occupies on area of about Y = f (X1 X2 X3 …………………...+ X7 Explicit 58,676.2 square kilometers [15]. The state is made up to 25 LGAs namely , , Explicit form (Linear) Bida, , Bosso , Edati, Gurara, Katch, Kontagora, , Lavun, Magama, = bo + b1X1+b2X2+b3X3+b4X4+b5X5+b6X7 +e Mariga, , Mokwa,Munya, , Rafi,

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Where: with large family size may have large involvement and readily supply of labour, which Ypi = (Probability of high involvement) reduces the cost of hired. I-pi =(Probability of low involvement) Logy =dischotomous variable high = 1, otherwise = 0 6.4 Household Sizes X1 = Age (years) X2 =Education level (years) About 48% of the respondents has household X3 =Marital Status (Number) X =Household size (Number) size of between 6 and 10 people. The implication 4 is that the higher the number of household size X5 =Years of processing experience (Years) X6 = Year of Schooling (Years) the lower the cost of labour this was in X7 =Major Occupation agreement with [19] which revealed that In agricultural food processing, household size 6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION determines the availability of labour. The additional labour to be hired depends on the 6.1 Demographic Characteristics amount of family labour available and reduce the cost of hiring more hand for such activities. The data in (Table 1) revealed that there are significant differences between the 6.5 Educational Level demographical characteristics of women involvement and improved groundnut processing About 50% of respondents in the study area methods. The Demographic characteristics of the have no access to formal education. The respondents in the study area were examined implication of this result implies that the low level and described with respect to their Age, marital of formal education is obviously a disadvantage status, Household size, educational level, year of to the respondents, due to the fact that improved schooling, year of processing experiences and technologies would have to be communicated to major occupation. these respondents in native dialects. This view was in line with findings of [19]. Which revealed 6.2 Age that education enables every individual to gain knowledge and skills and this increase their The age distribution of the respondents in the power of understanding. study area were between 21-50 years (81.1%). This implies that they were young and energetic 6.6 Years of Schooling within the productive age which could increase their groundnut processing activities. This was in agreement with finding of [17] in indigenous About 57% of the respondents had 1-6 years in resources managements among communities in school which implies that majority of the North West Zone of Nigeria which revealed that respondents had primary school qualification. the women processors are of the middle age The implication of this result is that 1-6 years category of 40-50 years of age. This implies that, may not be enough for the respondent to have the productive age groups of women processor more knowledge about improved technologies. in the study area were actively involved in groundnut processing activities and still have 6.7 Years of Processing Experience energy to cope with rigors of groundnut processing. About 32% of the respondents had 15-20 years 6.3 Marital Status of processing experience. This result was in line with finding of [20]. The study revealed that high About 67% of the respondents in the study area experience in agricultural processing can raise were married. The implication is that respondents productivity. that were married are more involved in the improved groundnut processing technologies in The mean years of experience of the the study area. respondents were 15.57 years. The high mean This was in line with study by [18]. Which years of processing experience suggests that the revealed that marital status of women processors respondents would not have many problems in play a significant role, in groundnut processing involving and effective use of improved activities where improved technologies are technologies. involved for instance married women processors

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Table 1. Demographic characteristics 6.8 Major Occupation

Demographic Frequen Perce Mean About 55% of the respondents in the study area information cy ntage are full time processors as their major Age (years) occupation. The implication of this result is that 21-30 years 19 10.6 respondents will involved and adopt improved 31-40 years 42 23.3 42.99 technologies. This view was in line with the study 41-50 years 85 47.2 by [12], which revealed that major occupation determine the level of involvement and adoption Above 50 34 18.9 of improved technologies. Marital status

Married 121 67.2 7. RESPONDENTS CONSTRAINTS Single 18 10.0 Divorce 18 10.0 Widowed 23 12.8 The data in (Table 2) revealed that there are Household significant differences between constraints faced size(Number) by women processors and improved groundnut processing methods. 1-5 56 31.1

6-10 86 47.8 6.76 11-15 35 19.4 About 92% of the respondents in the study area reported that poor electricity constraints were 16-20 3 1.7 among of their problems faced. about 80% of the Educational Level respondents also indicated that lack of credit Primary 19 10.6 facilities were also their problems such as loan, Post Primary 9 5.0 condition attached to loan disbursement, interest Secondary 13 7.2 rate, collateral and several trips to the bank Post Secondary 7 3.9 2.67 before loan is granted. This finding was in Adult Education 4 2.2 agreement with [21] which revealed that women Qur’anic 38 21.1 face a number of barriers to obtained credit from Education lending institutions because most of them have no collateral. The implication of this is that, None 90 50.0 without loan to facilitate the involvement and Years of adoption of improved groundnut technologies, schooling the respondents will not expand the scope of 1-6 102 56.7 processing women processor will continue to 7-12 75 41.7 queue for long at the extraction point. Another 13-18 3 1.7 problem experienced by the respondents were Years of increase in price of Petrol. processing experiences About 95% the respondents reported that petrol 1-5 12 6.7 engine is used for processing when there is no 6-10 42 23.3 electricity supply, and the women tend to spend 11-15 33 18.3 15.57 more as the cost of kneading is high which is not 15-20 57 31.7 economical for the respondents. The constraints increase in price of petrol has negative influence above 20 36 20.0 on involvement and adoption. It can be Major occupation concluded here that, if prices of petroleum Processors 99 55.0 products are not reduced some of the women Self employed 39 21.7 processors might revert to the use of the Company 5 2.8 traditional methods of groundnut processing. employed Processor 37 20.6 About 94% of the respondents reported that they Source: Field survey, 2013 still faced with constraints of poor processing equipment because these technologies are expensive to acquired and then emphasized in traditional methods of groundnut processing.

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Table 2. Respondents constraints irregular power supply should be made a priority intervention in the study area. Constraints Frequency Percentage 2. It was found that majority of the % respondents in the study area lack access Poor electricity 165 91.7 to credit facilities. It is recommended that Lack of credit 144 80.0 credit facilities should be provided by the Facility government and interested non High purchasing 170 94.4 Government organization to increase the Price of scope of groundnut processing business Technologies and improved their level of living. Increase in price of 171 95.0 3. The study revealed that respondents faced petrol with high purchasing price of technologies. Risk associated with 165 90.0 Constraints it is recommended that technologies improved groundnut technologies should Price flotuation 164 91.1 be made available for the respondents at Poor processing 170 94.4 the subsidies rate. This can be done Equipment though appeal to interested Non Poor quantity of 167 92.8 Governmental Organizations (NGOs) G/Nut private volunteers and other organized Poor capacity 162 90.0 bodies to assist government in Building complementing the present high Lack of viable 163 90.6 purchasing price of technologies to the commercial practice respondents. Need for 164 91.1 organization COMPETING INTERESTS producer Absence of 144 80.0 Authors have declared that no competing Sustainable policy interests exist. Source: Field survey, 2013; * Multiple Responses REFERENCES 8. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1 Centre for Agricultural Cooperation (CTA). The roles of a women in agricultural food The study has provided information on processing evidence from women right demographic characteristics of women place in groundnut processing, spore bi- involvement on the improved methods of monthly bulletin (CTA) Netherlands. groundnut processing in three Local Government 2003;44 Areas of Niger State, Nigeria. Majority of the 2 Hassan H, Usman Y, Ajayi O. Factors respondents do not have access to formal influencing the level of women participation education and this can affect disseminations of in agricultural processing activities. Paper information (printed materials) on any new Presented At The Conference of technologies to the respondents. The constraints Agricultural and green revolution in Africa such as poor electricity high cost of petrol supply, (AGRA) Togo. 2012;1-98. lack of credit facilities, high purchasing price of 3 World Bank. Oil Processing Intermediate technologies poor and lack of operational Technology Publication. London No 4: facilities for processing groundnuts affect the 2003;1-26. level of women involvement on the improved of 4 Christiana HG, Ken LB, Abe GC, Prefer groundnut processing technologies in the study TH, Max LKJ, Donna NK, et al. Gender area. Base on the findings in the study the and soil fertility in Africa. Soil science following recommendations are made- society of America special publication 2007;51:220. 1. In view of the high cost of petroleum 5 Shannon SB. Female agricultural workers products and irregular electricity supply, wages, female wages differentials, and which are required for groundnut agricultural growth in a Developing processing activities. It was recommended Country. Indian Economic Development that provision of solar powered electricity and cultural changes. India. 2005;40:46- by interested NGOs to address the 98.

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