Role of Gender in Family Farming in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Family farming is one of the most predominant forms of agriculture world- wide and plays significant role in household food security. The roles of men and women in the household are very important in sustaining family farming. The study examined the role of gender in family farming in Kabba/Bunu Local government Area of Kogi State with the objectives to identify family farm activities by gender; identify the socioeconomic benefits of family farming; identify the socioeconomic costs of family farming on gender and identify the constraints to family farming in the study area. The study was carried out in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area from February to August, 2015. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents (men and women) from the three districts in the Local Government Area. Primary data was generated through the administration of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to achieve objectives one, two and four while 4-scale ranking methods was used to achieve objective three. The major findings indicates that 87% of men were more involved in bush clearing while 92% of women were involved in processing; increased household food (95%) was the major benefit of family farming; increased workload on the household members was the major socioeconomic cost of family farming on gender while rural-urban migration was the major constraint to family farming in the study area. It was recommended Governments at all levels should provide conducive environment in the rural areas with basic social amenities so as reduce the level of rural-urban migration especially among youths and government at the local level should grant credit facilities and agricultural loans to farm family at low interest rate.