ABSTRACT
The study seek to determine the impact of Agricultural Development Projects on some selected Women Agricultural Activities in Makurdi, Benue State. A survey design which made use of structured questionnaire titled ADP Women Farmers Questionnaire (ADPWFQ) was used in the collection of data. The population for the study consists of all the 4,013 women farmers and 431 ADP staff in Benue State. The sample for the study was sixty five (65) consisted of fifty (50) women farmers and fifteen ADP staff. Descriptive Statistic, such as percentages and frequency distribution tables were used to analyze data on selected personal and socio-economic characteristics of the women, mean and standard deviation to answer research questions whereby a mean cut-off point of 2.50 will be used for decision making. The research hypotheses was tested using chi-square test of goodness of fit at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that there is a high level ADP aided activities among the women farmer, a high extent of involvement of ADP in Women Agricultural Activities, a high extent of women participation in Agricultural Development Programmes and high level of challenges women experience with ADPs in Makurdi. Hypothetically, the study revealed that there is a significant difference in the responses of women and ADP staff on the extent of women participation in Agricultural Development Programmes in Makurdi. It was recommended from the study that government should always conduct situational analysis of the rural areas so as to obtain a clear view of the prioritized needs of the people. And agricultural development projects such as poultry farms, fish ponds, veterinary clinics, agricultural extension offices, fertilizer distribution Centres, and poverty alleviation offices should be sited in rural areas by our political elite or well to do individuals so as to raise their standard of living.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Agricultural development is an integral part of national development. It is that aspect of development that is related to agrarian reforms. Considering the contribution of agriculture to the socio-economic development of many countries, several scholars have postulated theories linking agriculture with national development (Daneji, 2011).
Within the context of development paradigms postulated in the field of agriculture, communication, sociology and economics there are evidences to show that changes are taking place in the agricultural sector across the globe. Therefore, such changes can be viewed from contributions of agriculture to the national economies of various countries in form of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Over 70% of Nigerian population reside and earn their living in rural areas. Majority of these rural people are actively involved in agriculture and agriculture related enterprises especially women, youths and children (Yahaya, 2000).
In recognition of the critical role of agriculture to the country’s economic development, many Nigerian governments introduced various measures to boost agricultural production and alleviate poverty in the country including the Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs). Most of these programmes have failed to produce the desired results (Idachaba, 1991; Nnadozie and Nwanu, 2002, Ogwumike, 2009). According to Eboh (2011), in spite of successive progammes, the economy remains undiversified and highly skewed, as crude oil still accounts for more than 95% of total export revenues and up to 80-85% of government revenues, but contributes less than 4% of total employment. Agriculture’s contribution to GDP is presently about 41%. Ogwumike (2009) explained that the major reasons for failure of poverty alleviation efforts in Nigeria include programme inconsistency, poor implementation, corruption of government officials and public servants, poor targeting mechanisms, and the inability to focus directly on the poor (in terms of identifying the poor and the nature of their poverty). He further explained that sustainable poverty reduction in Nigeria would require the proper identification of the poor (their characteristics and survival strategies) as well as a multi-pronged approach in tackling the poverty problem given its multidimensional nature.
Presently, agricultural development forms an important component of Nigeria’s overall national prosperity ambition to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020 (vision 20-20-20). To achieve this, the Human Development Report of the UNDP (2008) estimated that Nigeria would require overall growth of above 10% on a consistent basis to attain this vision. As a result, Nigeria has set targets for year 2020 namely a GDP of US$900 billion, out of which 15% (or US$135billion) is to come from agriculture, and a per capita income of US$4000 (Eboh, 2011).
The establishment of the agricultural development programmes in Nigeria ushered in a new era in the history of Nigerian agriculture, because for the first time an agricultural development programme focused attention on women farmers as an important component of agricultural development. While the general aim of the ADP was to raise farm productivity and standard of living of farm families, there was need to address the peculiar needs of women farmers especially on gender specific issues, with emphasis on 70% production and 30% post-harvest technologies.
This was to harness the total farm agricultural capabilities of farm women, so as to build better lives for them, their families, communities, and the nation at large. The specific objectives are to improve project outreach to rural women; to train and encourage women farmers to adopt and use improved technologies in agricultural production, processing and utilization; to source and develop through research sustainable recommendation of technologies for activities solely performed by women; to train women in income generating activities by facilitating and motivating women farmers to form cooperative groups to strengthen and enable them acquire productive skills; to liaise and collaborate with national, and international organizations that have programmes for women (World Bank, 1996). The ultimate goal was to raise the income of women from agricultural enterprises.
Since 1990, the Women in Agriculture (WIA) in Makurdi ADP has disseminated different technologies to women farmers such as: (a) Crop varieties (maize, soya bean, rice, groundnuts, cassava, beniseed, sweet potatoes, and cowpea). (b) Yam minisett technique. (c) Crop mixtures (yam/cassava/maize/egusi alternate row, soya bean/maize, soyabean/sorghum, groundnut/cassava, groundnut/maize, groundnut/sorghum, and rice/maize). (d) Livestock production (piggery, rabittary and poultry). (e) Fishery (homestead fish production, pond construction, stocking and feeding, cultural practices, checking of overflow, checking of weeds, fish feed formulation. (f) Agro forestry (bee keeping, management of beehive, honey harvesting, snail farming and mushroom production). (g) Fadama (vegetable production, management and use of tube wells, and water pumps). (h) Post harvest innovations (processing, packaging, storage and marketing strategies) to women farmers in Benue State (BNARDA, 1997).
Among the crop varieties, Cassava production technology was selected because it has many advantages over the other technologies namely: (i) cassava is one of the dominant crops in the study area, (ii) there is no cultural restriction on cassava production by women in the area, (iii) the renewed international interest in the cassava crop as a source of biofuels (ethanol) has raised the importance of the crop. Other reasons are: (iv) Nigeria has potential comparative advantage(ability to produce at lower opportunity cost than others) in cassava production (Ayoola, 2009) in terms of a conducive climatic environment, abundant human and material resources, and favourable government policies (Fakayode et al, 2008) and others making it most suitable for this study. The cassava crop itself has some desirable qualities; it can be produced profitably because of its comparative low labour input (Erhabor and Omokaro, 2008). The crop can produce a reasonable crop on marginal soils too poor for other crops (FAO, 2000).
This is a major production advantage because in most cases women are allocated marginal lands to cultivate while men usually get the fertile ones. Besides, cassava is easy to process and responds readily to improvement. As a cash crop, cassava generates more cash income for the largest number of households than other staples, contributing positively to poverty alleviation and rural welfare (Enete, 2007). These and other features have endowed cassava with a special capacity to contribute to food security, equity, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection (Clair, et al, 2000), making it very suitable for studying.
In Nigeria, women make up to 60- 80% of agricultural labour force producing two-third of food crops (World Bank, 2003) and 80% of the food, and are involved in food production, food processing and marketing ( World Bank, 1994; CTA, 2002). As much as 73% of women are involved in cash crops, arable crops and vegetable gardening, post-harvest activities(16%), agro-forestry (15%) while in some states, rural women have virtually taken over the production and processing of arable crops (Afolabi, 2008).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In spite of the fact that women make numerous contributions to agricultural production, the widespread assumption that men and not women make key farm management decisions has prevailed. So when resources are released for agricultural development, women are often marginalized or even excluded. As a result, 70% of the world’s poorest people (including Nigeria) are women. Reasons for the neglect of women’s contribution to agricultural development include the small and fragmented nature of their farms, lack of education, poor information and poor technical skills, numerous domestic chores, lack of interest among planners on the role of women, societal attitude and traditions in the African society among others. According to Ogbimi and Williams (2001), the reason for women’s limited access to income and economic opportunities is that women work at the margin of development efforts and programmes. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the impact of agricultural development projects on some selected women agricultural activities in Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study is to look at the impact of Agricultural Development Projects on some selected Women Agricultural Acitivities in Makurdi.
The specific objectives include:-
- Determine Women Agricultural Activities aided by Agricultural Development Projects in Makurdi
- Examine the Extent of involvement of Agricultural Development Projects on Women Agricultural Activities in Makurdi
- Determine the Extent of Women Participation in Agricultural Development Programmes in Makurdi
- Identify challenges Women experience with Agricultural Development Projects in Makurdi
1.4 Research Questions
- What are the women Agricultural activities aided by Agricultural Development Projects in Makurdi?
- What is the Extent of involvement of Agricultural Development Projects on Women Agricultural Activities in Makurdi?
- What is the Extent of Women Participation in Agricultural Development Programmes in Makurdi?
- What are the challenges Women experience with Agricultural Development Projects in Makurdi?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
Ho1: There is no significant difference in the responses of women and ADP staff on the extent of women participation in Agricultural Development Programmes in Makurdi
1.6 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study depends on the fact that with improved Agricultural activities, Nigeria stands to gain in its effects toward development. This will form the basis upon which suggestions and contributions will be made as to how the full potentials of Women Agricultural Activities can be harnessed. Findings from this study will help Women in Agriculture in harnessing various Agricultural Activities the will bring about greater productivity. It will help Women working with ADP achieve more in their Agricultural production. It will also help in the improvement of Agricultural Development Projects on Women in Agriculture and Women working with ADP.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This research work focuses on the impact of agricultural development project on selected women agricultural activities in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Impact: to have an immediate and strong effect on something or somebody
Agriculture: farming, cultivation, crop growing, food production, agricultural science, husbandry, agronomy
Project: scheme, assignment, task, undertaking, job, plan, blueprint, design, strategy
Activities: doings, actions, events, happenings, goings-on (informal), deeds, comings and goings, accomplishments, undertakings
Women farmers: matured females who are actively involved in the practice of agriculture
