Enterprise Factors Influencing Gender Involvement in Rice Enterprises in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed enterprise characteristics and gender involvement in rice enterprises in south-western Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedures were employed for the study. The respondents were stratified by age and gender into adult male, adult female, young male and young female. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to gather data for the study. The results of the study show that larger farm sizes and production activities mostly associated with male respondents; greater sales especially by adult respondents; high dependence on personal savings for credit and use of both self and hired labour and rented land across gender categories, characterised the rice enterprises surveyed in south-western Nigeria. The Chi-square analysis of enterprise characteristics and involvement in the rice enterprises confirmed the statistical significance of type of enterprise (production), type of enterprise (marketing) and land acquisition, while correlation analysis affirms the significance of years of farming experience. The regression analysis shows that types of enterprise - production, processing and marketing are significant enterprise factors influencing involvement in the rice enterprises.