Male and Female Involvement in the Adoption of Improved Sesame Production Technologies in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analysed gender involvement in the adoption of improved sesame production technologies in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, 120 respondents were selected for the study. Data analyses were achieved using percentage, mean statistics (M), and sigma scoring methods. Findings showed that farmers were aware (M=5.874) of and adopted (M =5.541) improved sesame production technologies. One hundred per cent of males and 66.79% of females respectively were involved in ploughing with a hoe; 82.5% of males and 61.9% of females respectively harrowed, while 26.3% of males and 14.3% of females ploughed after the first rain. Lack of access to credit facilities (M=2.84), high cost of farm inputs (M=2.71), high cost of fertilizers (M=2.65), poor extension contact (M=2.55), poor storage facilities (M=2.49), poor access roads (M=2.48) were rated as serious challenges to producing sesame. Although most of the sesame producers were aware of and adopted improved production technologies, the adoption rate was higher among the male than female sesame farmers. Farmers should form themselves into well-managed cooperatives to access good quality inputs from certified merchants and credit facilities to invest in farming.