Gender analysis of improved farm practices adopted by pineapple farming households in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined a gender analysis of adoption of improved technologies among pineapple farmers in Esan west Local Government Area of Edo State. Specifically, the study examined socio-economic characteristics of pineapple farmers, ascertains their level of adoption of improved technologies in pineapp le production, determined the level of males and females involved in adoption of improved technologies and the factors influencing the adoption of improved practices in pineapple production, and identified the constraints limiting the adoption of productio n technologies by pineapple farmers in the study area. Data were collected from eighty (80) respondents randomly selected from the study area. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The result showed that the mean age of the respondents was 34 years, majorly were male (62.5%) with (45.0%) being married and 66.2% educated. The average farming experience of the respondents was 17.4 years, with a mean household size of four persons and an average farm size of 3 hectares per farmer with mean income of ₦68,218.75. About (73.8%) belong to farmers association. Gender analysis indicated that males accounted for 52.5%. 44.53%.28.75% 50% 51.56% 33.75% and 48.75% of pineapple farmers that adopted the seven technologies introduced to them while females accounted for 31.25%, 26.71%, 17.50%, 28.75%, 30 %and 20% of the respondents that adopted the seven technologies respectively. The respondents’ major methods of harvesting were the use of hand (31.3%), cutlass. The major constraints faced by respondents in the adoption of improved pineapple practices were cost of innovation, relevance of innovation, availability farm inputs associated with the technology, timeliness, Source of the technology, cultural acceptability and compatibility with the exiting practices. Chi-square result shows that socio-economic factors such as sex (x²=5.00), marital status (x²=38.125), level of formal education, farming experience (x²=31.475), household size (x²=8.450), farm size (x²=27.100), income (x²=25.300) and membership of association (x²=18.050) had significant relationship with the adoption of improved farm practices in pineapple production. It was concluded that male pineapple farmers had higher level of adoption of improved practices in pineapple production than their female counterparts. It is recommended that extension agents should encourage more female farmers on the need to adopt improved farm practices in pineapple production.

Keywords: Gender, Adoption. Improved technology, Pineapple