ABSTRACT

The project examines factors influencing women's participation m agricultural production: evidence from small-scale farmers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. This project provides evidence that women play a significant role in agriculture through their influential participation. Multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of the 100 respondents used for this project through the help of Agricultural Development Programme Offices in Ado, Ikere and Ikole in Ekiti State. Both the primary and secondary data was used for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire, while secondary data were collected from established similar studies and ADP offices in Ekiti state. Data collected provided information which were used to achieve the project stated objectives. Secondary data helped to identify areas of study and the structure of gender participation in agricultural production. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. Results revealed that the majority of women farmers (46%) who participated in agricultural production are within the age of (30 -39) years. Hence, farming activities in the study area is mostly dominated by young adults; innovation and new technology can easily be accepted and used. Primary education had the

highest (46%) educational qualification among the women respondents. This category of women were involved more in agricultural production that other educational attainment category. Crop farming (77%) dominates other agricultural productions. Moreover, results revealed that 67% of women source capital from personal Savings 32% of women obtain loan while only 1% source for capital through grant/empowerment. Major reason that motivated high women participation in crop farming is that it is an ancestral inheritance of our people. Majority of the women farmers indicated that crop farming is conveniently to do as they have regarded crop farming as a way of life. Profitability analysis indicated that women farmer realize profit as 22% of the respondents realized profit in the range of #2500 - #50000. However 73% of women farmers that engaged in crop farming have the highest percentage. Hence. women (armers who engaged in crop farming received the highest share of the profit than others. The project deduced that women have contributed enormously to agricultural operations in the study area. However, much of their work continues to be unrecognized. Despite widespread participation of women on farms, their farm participation often remains invisible. Several barriers affecting women's participation in agricultural activities were identified by the project as systemic gender based biases has been dominant. Government should encourage and assist women farmers by giving them special attention in terms of access to needed farm inputs and incentives. Measures should be taken to enhance women's literacy rates. A separate education policy for women may serve the purpose.

Keywords: Women participation, Agricultural production, Profitability analysis, Regression analysis, Ekiti state, Nigeria