GENDER ANALYSIS ON ACCESS TO PRODUCTION RESOURCES AMONG GARDEN EGG FARMERS IN UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the gender analysis on access to production resources among garden egg farmers in Umuahia Agricultural zone, Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, ascertained level of knowledge of garden egg production technologies and examined access to production resources of garden egg across gender. Multistage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of 128 respondents for the study. Data collected through structured questionnaire were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results indicated that both the male and female garden egg farmers respectively had common knowledge of eight out of the twelve garden egg production technologies listed. Results indicated that production resources such as land (X=4.40), agro chemicals like herbicides (X=4.17), pesticides (=4.05), labour for land preparation (X=4.13), planting (X=4.03) and weeding/fertilizer application (X=4.02) were highly accessible to the male farmers, while labour for only weeding/fertilizer application (X=4.03) and harvesting (X=4.06) had mean above 4.0 are readily accessible to the female garden egg farmers. Furthermore, the study revealed that both male and female farmers enjoyed access to inputs such as improved garden egg variety (X=3.98 and X=3.58), inorganic fertilizer (X=3.97 and X=3.97) and organic fertilizer (X=3.55 and X=3.42). The results generally indicated low level of access to production resources among the female farmers. Giving women the same access as men to agricultural resources could increase production on women's farms. The study recommended investment in rural training by the government and entrepreneurship development experts more especially in access and resource management should mainly be targeted to the female garden egg farmers for sustained utilization of technologies.