Assessment of labour roles by gender in cassava production in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the labour roles played by different gender in cassava production in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 120 cassava farmers purposively selected from three (3) communities with the aid of questionnaire validated by expert judgment. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts percentages and Chi square statistics - finding revealed that majority (52.5%)of the respondents were male, 40. 8% fell within the age bracket of 41-50 years, majority (45, o%) has farming experience of 11-15 years most (80.0%)had farm size of 0.1-1.0 hectares. Respondents perceived inadequate capital, high labour cost l and land tenur as major problems associated with cassava production. Significant association exist between male and female (gender) and the labour roles in clearing (x2 = 39.27; p<0.05), tilling (x2 = 6.17; p<0.05), planting (x2 = 7.58; p<0.05) and processing (x2 = 17.16; p<0.05), it is recommended that saving technologies be encourage and diffused in order to check the high cost of labour also Government and State and Local levels should through their agencies educate farmers on land use Act of 1978 to address the issue of
land tenure.

Keywords Labour Roles, Gender, Cassava Production.