Role of Household Members in Kolanut Production and Marketing in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed roles of household members in kolanut production and marketing in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 80 kolanut farmers. Data were collected from the respondents using structured interview schedule. Data were presented and analyzed using frequency counts, percentage, mean statistic and factor analysis with varimax rotation. Men played prominent roles in land preparation (90.0%), removal of mistletoe from kola nut trees (100.0%) and harvesting (85.0%). Women were more involved in soaking of the nut in water for the removal of the coat (87.5%) and marketing of kola nut (95.0%). Children were involved in removal of nuts from the pods (65.0%) and transporting kola nut to the market (68.8%). Constraints to kolanut production and marketing were group into environmental related issue, policy issue and input related issue. The major dominant variables of these constraints were land tenure system (0.867), instability in government policies (0.904) and unavailability and high cost of improve kola seedling (0.713). The study recommended that programmes aimed at improving the production capacity of farmers should be channeled towards men while those aimed at marketing should be directed towards women for sustainable agricultural development.

Keyword: Household roles, kolanut, production, marketing