A Comparative Analysis of Agricultural Constraints and Coping Strategies among Women Farmers in Rural and Urban Nigeria

Abstract

Studies have shown that women contribute 50-60% labour to agricultural production in Nigeria. They are however, confronted with monumental constraints which hinder their performances in agricultural production. The aim of this research is to analyze rural and urban women farmers with respect to farming constraints and the coping strategies adopted by them in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examines the socio-demographic characteristics and farm activities of women; analyzes the problems facing them in their farm activities and coping strategies adopted to mitigate the constraints. A total of 400 women farmers were sampled with copies of questionnaire in Otun-Oro and Ahun. In order to explore their opinions further on the constraints faced and the coping strategies adopted by them, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were organized for them. Matrix ranking was employed to rank their problems in order of most pressing. The urban women farmers sampled in Otun-Oro ranked land tenure problem (46.4%), poor access to credit facilities (19.5%) and inadequate farm input (17.5%) among others as the most pressing problems confronting them. The rural women famers in Ahun ranked poor access to credit facilities (46.0%), lack of farm input (32.5%) and bad roads (20.0%) among others as the most pressing problems confronting their increased production. Some of the coping strategies adopted include participating in farmers’ cooperative societies with relaxed conditions, multiple cropping to diversify production, early or late planting and praying to God. Hence, an average urban woman farmer has lots of potentials that can be developed to assist in urban planning for proper agricultural development and management. Recommendations were made appropriately and these include: when taking agricultural/farming decisions, women should be part of the group and production resources should be made available especially for women farmers both at the rural and urban areas. This will enhance increased agricultural production by women.