Assessment Of The Contribution Of Women To The Agricultural Production In A Developing Economy

Abstract

Despite the significant contribution of women to agricultural production in developing countries, they have not been given the opportunity to realize their full economic potential in the agricultural sector. This is as a result of
traditional gender-based subordination and disparity between men and women in the size of landholdings and other agricultural resources. Women’s subordination has limited their access to and control over productive resources. Women are the key resources in farm production, but their productivity depends on the rate of their involvement in farm decision-making. In Nigeria, the decisions and responsibilities taken by women are related to the farm tasks they perform. Men take more of the decisions with regards to selection of enterprises, sizes of enterprises, buying and using of farm inputs. This is because they are economically able and have access to credit facilities more than women. Most of the agricultural development programmes of developing countries in the past failed because women
were not adequately recognized and involved in the planning and executing of development programmes.