Soil and water conservation capabilities of male and female vegetable farmers on micro-veg project sites in south-western Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the soil and water conservation (SWC) capabilities of male and female vegetable farmers on MicroVeg project sites in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used for sample selection. Capabilities was measured as a pooled score of respondents’ responses to identified SWC technologies used on a three point Likert type scale. Data were collected from male and female vegetable farmers using quantitative and qualitative data instruments and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that both male and female vegetable farmers were knowledgeable in most of the SWC technologies investigated. However, male vegetable farmers’ capability of SWC technologies was higher when compared to the females. There were significant differences between the male and female vegetable farmers’ SWC capabilities (t = 1.631; p≤ 0.01). Based on the key findings of the study, it was recommended that integration of a male-female perspective approach and policies that could bridge the gaps should be introduced as this will ensure female farmers unrestricted access to land and debunk the economic and socio-cultural factors responsible for this gap.

Keywords: Soil and water conservation, capabilities, Vegetable farmers, MicroVeg project