The study investigated the major constraints faced by women rice farmers
in Nigeria. The study employed a survey research design. One hundred women rice
farmers were randomly selected and information were obtained with the aid of
well-structured questionnaire. The frequency, percentage, t-test and regression
analysis were used to analyze data obtained. The study revealed that, only 26%
had negative productivity, 53% had positive productivity, few (31%) had a
positive profit of above 100,000 Naira and others have a profit of between 1 - 100,000
Naira. Personal saving was the best source of finance or capital for women
rice farmers. Lack of finance is one of the major challenges faced by women
rice farmers. Other challenges include credit availability and accessibility,
lack of mechanized/technological equipments, level of degradation, among
others. Also, result showed that only government support as a source of finance
was negatively significant and affected women rice farmers’ productivity
negatively. The study recommended that, women rice farmers should endeavour to
undergo various developmental programmes to develop themselves so as to
increase their competitive advantage in their locality and also in the local
and global agricultural sector. In addition, governments and other policy
makers should strategize plans and programmes that would contribute to women
rice farmers, agriculture, community and national development.
Cite this paper
Omiunu, O. G. (2014). Investigating the Challenges Faced by Women Rice Farmers in Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 1, e503. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1100503.
Hauser, E. (2003) The WTO Food Security and Poverty Reduction—A Contradiction in Terms? 2nd Edition, Agriculture and Rural Development, Swaziland Printing and Publishing Company Limited, 8-11.
Akande, T. (2003) The Rice Sector in Nigeria. United Nation Crop Project (UNCP) Country Agricultural Project on Trade Liberalization in Agricultural Sector and the Environment, Geneva, 10. In: Reference [4].
http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07Umeh&Ataborh.pdf
Nigerian Population Census (2006) National Population Commission, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/Nigeria06CensusFigs.html
Umeh, J.C. and Ataborh, E.M. (2006) Efficiency of Rice Farmers in Nigeria: Potentials for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation.
http://www.ifmaonline.org/pdf/congress/07Umeh&Ataborh.pdf
Ogundari, K. (2006) Determinants of profit Efficiency among Small-Scale Rice Farmers in Nigeria: A Profit Function Approach. Paper Presented at International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, 12-18 August 2006, 2.
Ayoola, J.B., Kudi, T.M., Dangbegnon, C., Daudu, C.K., Mando, A., Amapu, I.Y., Adeosun, J.O. and Ezui, K.S. (2012) Gender Perspectives of Action Research for Improved Rice Value Chain in Northern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science, 4, 211-218.
www.ccsenet.org/jas
Ologbon, O.A.C., Ikheloa, E.E. and Akerele, E.O. (2012) Adoption of “Ofada” Rice Variety and Technical Efficiency of Rice-Based Production Systems in Ogun State, Nigeria. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 8, 624-631.
National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) (2007) The NEEDS Secretariat, National Planning Commission. Federal Secretariat, Government Press, Abuja, Nigeria.
Balogun, O.L., Akinlade, R.J. and Campbell, O.A. (2012) Impact of Microfinance on Rural Households. Cooperative Finance in Developing Economies, 2012 International Year of Cooperatives. Soma Prints Ltd., Lagos.
Longtau, S.R. (2000) Multi-Agency Partnership in West African Agriculture: A Review and Description of Rice Pro- duction System in Ni-geria. Monograph, Ecosystem Development Organization, Jos, 47 p.
Rahman, S.A., Gabriel, J. and Marcus, N.D. (2004) Gender Differentials in Labour Contribution and Productivity in Farm Production. Empirical Evidence from Kaduna State of Nigeria. The National Conference on Family, Makurdi, 1-5 March 2004.
Mahmood, R. and Hanafi, N. (2012) Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance of Women-Owned Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia: Competitive Advantage as a Mediator. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4, 82-90.
Rahman, S.A. (2008) Women’s Involvement in Agriculture in Northern and Southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. Journal of Gender Studies, 17, 17-26.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09589230701838347
Ajayi (1998) Small Scale Farming in Nigeria: Problems and Prospect. The National Workshop on Strategies for Increasing the Agricultural Productivity of Nigerian Women, National Productivity Centre (NPC), 21-23 July.
Watson, J. (2003) SME Performance: Does Gender Matter? The Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand 16th Annual Conference, Ballarat, 28 September-1 October 2003, Paper No. 32, 1.
Ayoola1, J.B., Dangbegnon, C., Daudu, C.K., Mando, A., Kudi, T.M., Amapu, I.Y., Adeosun, J.O. and Ezui, K.S. (2011) Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Rice Production among Male and Female Farmers in Northern Guinea Savanna Nigeria: Lessons for Promoting Gender Equity in Action Research. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 2, 1010.
http://www.scihub.org/ABJNA
Olowa, O.W. and Olowa, O.A. (2011) Issues, Problems and Policies in Agricul-tural Credit: A Review of Agricultural Credit in Nigeria. Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology, 8, 87-108.
Fonjong, L.N. and Athanasia, M.F. (2007) The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Women Rice Producers in Ndop, Cameroon and the Implications for Gender Roles. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 8, 133-147.
Adebayo, O.O. and Adeola, R.G. (2008) Sources and Uses of Agricultural Credit by Small-Scale Farmers in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State. Anthropologist, 10, 313-314.
Amaza, P.S., Kwagbe, P.V. and Amos, A.A. (1999) Analysis of Women’s Participation in Agricultural Cooperatives: Case Study of Borno State, Nigeria. Annals of Borno, 15-16, 187-196.
Olagunju, F.I., Fakayode, S.B., Babatunde, R.O. and Ogunwole-Olapade, F. (2013) Gender Analysis of Sweet Potato Production in Osun State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 2, 1-13.
Dayo, P., Ephraim, N., John, P. and Ayoola, O.O. (2009) Constraints to Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria: A Review. Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP) Background Paper No. NSSP 006, September 2009.
Ndanitsa, M.A., Musa, S.A. and Umar, I.S. (2011) Impact of Microfinance Institutions’ Micro-Credit Program on Poverty Alleviation through Agricultural Finance Intermediation to Maize Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Savannah Journal of Agriculture, 6, 82-92.
Kazeem, M.A. (1991) Economics of Rice Production in Lagos State: A Case Study of Itoikin Irrigation Project, Epe, Lagos State. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Alfred, S.D. (2002) Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Rice Production by Women Farmers in Ondo State. The Ogun Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 151-165. In: Ologbon, O.A.C., Ikheloa, E.E. and Akerele, E.O. (2012) Adoption of “Ofada” Rice Variety and Technical Efficiency of Rice-Based Production Systems in Ogun State, Nigeria. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 8, 624-631.
Devi, R.U. and Govt, S.R.K. (2012) The Role of Credit Co-Operatives in the Agricultural Development of Andhra Pra- desh, India. International Journal of Cooperative Studies, 1, 55-64.
Bratton, M. (1986) Financing Smallholder Production: A Comparison of Individual and Group Credit Scheme in Zimbabwe. Public Administration and Development, 6, 115-132.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pad.4230060202
Ellinger, P.N. and Barry, P.J. (2004) A Farmer’s Guide to Agricultural Credit; A Publication of the Centre for Farm and Rural Business Finance: A finance-Focused Initiative Providing Information to Farm and Rural Businesses and their Knowledge Providers. University of Illinois, Urbana Cham-paign.
Adegbite, D.A., Oloruntoba, A.O. and Olaoye, O.J. (2009) Performance Assessment of Ogun State Agricultural and Multi-Purpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) in Credit Delivery and Operation (2004-2006). Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 10, 127-153.
Badiru, I.O. (2010) Review of Small farmer Access to Agricultural Credit in Nigeria. Nigeria Strategy Support Program. Policy Note 25. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
Anyiro, C.O. and Oriaku, B.N. (2011) Access to and Investment of Formal Micro Credit by Small Holder Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. A Case Study of Absu Micro Finance Bank, Uturu. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 6, 69-76.
Odebiyi, O.C. and Olaoye, O.J. (2012) Small and Medium Scale Aquaculture Enterprises (SMES) Development in Ogun State, Nigeria: The Role of Microfinance Banks. Libyan Agriculture Research Center Journal International, 3, 1-6.
Ashaolu, O.F., Momoh, S., Phillip, B.B. and Tijani, I.A. (2011) Microcredit Effect on Agricultural Productivity: A Comparative Analysis of Rural Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Agricultural and Api- cultural Research, 7, 23-35.
Mgbada, J.U. (2000) Production of Staple Crops by Rural Women in Enugu and Ebonyi States. Lessons for Enhancing Poverty Alleviation Programmes. Proceedings of the 6th Annual National Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria, 10-12 April 2000, Ibadan, 11.
Ayoola, J.B. (1999) Economic Analysis of Women Entrepreneurship in Low-Income Households of Benue State, Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics, Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Rahman, S.A. and Usman, J.I. (2004) Comparative Analysis of Women’s Participation in Agricultural Production in Northern and Southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. Mobilizing Investors for Sustainable Agricultural Research, Development and Production in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Ni-geria, 17-21 October 2004, 105-108.
Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) (2002) As-sessment of the Economic, Social and Environmental Impact of Rice Production in Nigeria within the Trade Libralisation Framework, A Research Paper, 93 p.
