December 2018 Vol. 6 No.12

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Udemezue JC
Nwalieji HU

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Original Research Article

Gender roles and information needs on sweet potato production by small scale farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Udemezue^1* J. C. and Nwalieji² H. U.

¹National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, PMB7006 Umudike Abia State, Nigeria
²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: udemezuej@gmail.com
+234(0)8038971076
 
Accepted December 19, 2018

Abstract

The study examined gender roles and information needs on sweet potato production by small-scale farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: identify socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, ascertain sources of information on the sweet potato activities and ascertain gender roles in sweet potato production activities. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Data were collected from primary source through questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed and presented using frequency, percentage and mean score. The findings showed that the mean age of farmers (male and female) and farming experience were 25 and 23 years, 5 and 6 years respectively. Farmers used National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), fellow farmers and Abia State Agricultural Development Project (AADP) as their major source of information on sweet potato production technologies. Sweet potato production activities were dominated by female while land clearing and ridge making by male. In terms of ranking as regard to female farmers, NRCRI, fellow farmers, AADP and input dealers were ranked as the first four major sources of information used by the farmers in the area. Other channels like extension agent, cooperative, radio, television, internet and university were ranked as the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th sources of information used by the farmers respectively. The study recommended that: The roles of women in agriculture should be straightened and encouraged since they dominated the activities of sweet potato production in this study and this could as well help to balance the gender gap in the contemporary society. Extension agents should be well remunerated so they will be able to disseminate information need to farmers with utmost priorities. Organization of capacity building programmes on information disseminating enshrined in extension curriculum should be strengthened to benefit more farmers.

Keyword: Gender, roles, information needs, sweet potato, small scale farmers