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Apr 30, 2022Keywords:
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Involvement of Female Headed Farm Households in Cocoyam Production in Okigwe LGA, Imo State, Nigeria: Empirical Analyses
Abstract
This study analyzed the involvement of female headed farm household in cocoyam production in Okigwe Local Government Area (LGA), Imo State, Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was employed in collecting data from sixty (60) female headed farm households. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequencies and percentages), likert rating scale, and probit regression. Results on Socio Economic Characteristics of the Respondents showed the mean age of the respondents as 43.82years old, while cumulatively, 93.33% were literate, possessing diverse formal educational levels ranging from primary school education to tertiary school education and the mean household size of the respondents was 4.47 persons. About half (50.00%) of the respondents had farm size of between 0.6-1.0 ha. The result on extent of involvement in cocoyam production showed that the respondents participated in planting with mean value of 4.3, which ranked highest, followed fertilizer application (4.12), cutting of cocoyam corm (4.10) and harvesting (3.30). The result also showed that the farmers were not involved in land clearing (1.5). The probit regression analysis on factors influencing involvement of female headed farm households showed that educational level, farm size, annual income and quantity of cocoyam produced were significant positive determinants influencing involvement of female headed farm households in cocoyam production. With respect to the constraints militating against cocoyam production by female headed farm households, the result showed that all the variables considered were serious constraints to cocoyam production. Lack of access to credit (2.92), Unavailability of improved cocoyam minisett (2.72), Inadequate farm land (2.67) and Difficulties in procurement of fertilizer (2.58) were the most serious constraints to cocoyam production in the study area. The results therefore call for policies aimed at encouraging the younger female farmers to get more involved in cocoyam production by giving them access to land to increase production. Policies that will also mitigate the constraints militating against production are also advocated for.
