Analysis of income sources of women farmers in rural areas of Delta state, Nigeria.

Abstract

Data generated from six communities from four Local Government Areas [LGAs] of Delta State were analysed using percentage distribution and Cobb-Douglas production function showed that about 60%, 26% and 14% of the income of the women farmers were derived from small ruminant production, off-farm employment and crop production. Further analysis showed that crop and small ruminant production have greater potential in increasing the farmer's income. The specific analysis shows that more than 46% of crop farm income comes from cassava production and that more than 75% of income from small ruminant comes from goat production. The paper suggests that agricultural policy and programmes should focus more on cassava and goat production in order to increase income of the women farmers in the study area.

Keywords: Income Sources, Women Farmers, Rural Area

Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (1) 2007: pp. 66-71