Main Article Content
Comparative Analysis Of Agricultural Productivity Of Rural Women In High And Low HIV/AIDS Prevalent Areas Of Anambra State
Abstract
Agricultural productivity of rural women in Anambra State has
continued to decline despite government intervention in provision of
agricultural inputs. The scourge of HIV/AIDS has compounded the problem. This research was initiated to compare the agricultural productivity of rural women in high and low HIV/AIDS prevalent areas of Anambra State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the
respondents for the study. Based on FMH (2005), areas with high HIV/AIDS
prevalent rates in Anambra State include Awka South and Onitsha North Local Government Areas while areas with low HIV/AIDS prevalent rates include Njikoka and Idemili North Local Government Areas. Two towns;
namely Awka and Onitsha towns were purposively selected representing
towns with high HIV/AIDS prevalent rates while Ogidi and Enugwu-Ukwu
were selected representing towns with low HIV/AIDS prevalent rates. They
constituted the first stage. Awka, Onitsha, Ogidi and Enugwu-Ukwu have 33, 9, 9 and 21 villages respectively. A total of 12 villages (3 villages from each of the towns) were sampled for the study. From each of the 12 villages, 10 rural women were randomly selected from list of registered rural women farmers provided by Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) using simple random sampling technique to make 120 respondents that provided data for the study. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, Mann-Whitney U and t-test. Results indicate that most of the women are young adult of less than or thirty years of age with high literacy level. Radio was found to be the most accessible source of information on HIV/AIDS among respondents. Most of the respondents are predominately christians. It was confirmed that respondents have high knowledge level on mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS disease. Agricultural productivity of selected crops; cassava, yam, maize, rice and cocoyam in both areas was found to be low. In high HIV/AIDS prevalent areas,96.7 percent of the respondents had cassava output below the mean cassava output x =1366.73kg.In low HIV/AIDS prevalent areas,98.3 percent of the respondents had cassava output below mean cassava output, x = 823.93kg .Agricultural productivity of respondents significantly differ according to their marital status(Z = -3.584; p =0.090), educational attainment level(Z = -1.694; p=0.090),and age (t = -3.584; p
=0.001).No significant difference exist in the productivity of respondents with their cultivation of cassava ( p =0.588),yam ( p =0.562),maize (0.374),rice (p =0.509) and cocoyam ( p = 0.633). Based on the findings of the study agricultural productivity was found to be low in both high and low HIV/AIDS prevalent areas of Anambra State and therefore recommends that adequate training and teaching on soil conservation measures which will enhance soil fertility should be adopted by
rural women. Rural women should not only be provided with agricultural
inputs but should ensure safe delivery of inputs to clientele should be
ensured.
continued to decline despite government intervention in provision of
agricultural inputs. The scourge of HIV/AIDS has compounded the problem. This research was initiated to compare the agricultural productivity of rural women in high and low HIV/AIDS prevalent areas of Anambra State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the
respondents for the study. Based on FMH (2005), areas with high HIV/AIDS
prevalent rates in Anambra State include Awka South and Onitsha North Local Government Areas while areas with low HIV/AIDS prevalent rates include Njikoka and Idemili North Local Government Areas. Two towns;
namely Awka and Onitsha towns were purposively selected representing
towns with high HIV/AIDS prevalent rates while Ogidi and Enugwu-Ukwu
were selected representing towns with low HIV/AIDS prevalent rates. They
constituted the first stage. Awka, Onitsha, Ogidi and Enugwu-Ukwu have 33, 9, 9 and 21 villages respectively. A total of 12 villages (3 villages from each of the towns) were sampled for the study. From each of the 12 villages, 10 rural women were randomly selected from list of registered rural women farmers provided by Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) using simple random sampling technique to make 120 respondents that provided data for the study. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, Mann-Whitney U and t-test. Results indicate that most of the women are young adult of less than or thirty years of age with high literacy level. Radio was found to be the most accessible source of information on HIV/AIDS among respondents. Most of the respondents are predominately christians. It was confirmed that respondents have high knowledge level on mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS disease. Agricultural productivity of selected crops; cassava, yam, maize, rice and cocoyam in both areas was found to be low. In high HIV/AIDS prevalent areas,96.7 percent of the respondents had cassava output below the mean cassava output x =1366.73kg.In low HIV/AIDS prevalent areas,98.3 percent of the respondents had cassava output below mean cassava output, x = 823.93kg .Agricultural productivity of respondents significantly differ according to their marital status(Z = -3.584; p =0.090), educational attainment level(Z = -1.694; p=0.090),and age (t = -3.584; p
=0.001).No significant difference exist in the productivity of respondents with their cultivation of cassava ( p =0.588),yam ( p =0.562),maize (0.374),rice (p =0.509) and cocoyam ( p = 0.633). Based on the findings of the study agricultural productivity was found to be low in both high and low HIV/AIDS prevalent areas of Anambra State and therefore recommends that adequate training and teaching on soil conservation measures which will enhance soil fertility should be adopted by
rural women. Rural women should not only be provided with agricultural
inputs but should ensure safe delivery of inputs to clientele should be
ensured.
