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Gender differentials in sweetpotato production on the livelihood strategies of farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria


TU Madu
AC Okoye
MC Alozie
AG Ironkwe
JC Njoku
GI Edeoga

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyse the determinants of sweetpotato production on the livelihood strategies of the male and female sweetpotato producers in Ebonyi State. A multi-stage randomized sampling procedure was used to collect cross sectional data in 2014. Data collected from 120 Sweetpotato producers were analysed using descriptive statistics and ordered probit analyses. The results of the study showed that the mean age of male and female farmers was about 30 and 40 years respectively. Results show that the male and female farmers had about 15 years of farming experience, and household size of about 7 persons each. The result of the Ordered Probit Regression analysis showed a significant Chi2 at 1% % level of probability for male and female producers indicating that the variables used were appropriate for the analysis. The results show that the coefficients for location and age were negatively signed and significant at 10% and 5% level respectively. The coefficients of quantity harvested and area of land cultivated were positively signed and significant at 1% level each. Coefficient for area of land cultivated were positively signed and significant at 5% as well as, age and household size at1% level each. Coefficient of gender was negative and significant at 5% level of probability indicating that female farmers are more likely to be full time producers order than paid or self-employed. The results call for policies aimed at encouraging rural farmers through provision of institutional and infrastructural facilities to attract young men and women who are agile and stronger to increase the cultivation of sweetpotato as well as land reform policies by making more land available especially to the female sweetpotato farmers.


Keywords: Gender, Sweetpotato production and Livelihood strategies


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print ISSN: 0300-368X