Gender Differentials among Subsistence Rice Farmers and Willingness to undertake Agribusiness in Africa: Evidence and Issues from Nigeria

Abstract

Gender disparities in resource access, utilization and competitiveness in agricultural production have been critical challenges to the achievement of food security and inclusive growth in Africa. Thus, this article determined rice farmers’ productivities and competitiveness, their willingness to undertake and factors influencing their participation in agribusiness across gender, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study employed a case study of rice farmers in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, to reach its conclusion. The study concluded that in spite of the willingness to invest in agribusiness, gender imbalance in socioeconomic status, resource use and incomes were still recurring issues limiting productivity, competiveness in rice production and by extension, food security. To feed Africa, there is the need to close the gender gap in socio‐economic status, resource access, productivity and competitiveness, align national with regional agenda and the global sustainable development goals on hunger and equity, with the view to pooling resources towards tackling the food insecurity on an equitable and sustainable basis. It has also become imperative to support effective policy deployment, implement proven innovative and sustainable agri‐business models and embark on targeted gender support within country and regional settings.

Gender equity considerations in food environments of low and middle income countries: A scoping review

“…In particular, it was found that women in Islamic communities did not have access to and control over credit, while women in non-Islamic communities had equal access to credit as men (Quaye et al, 2016). Finally, limited access to credit for women compared to men is reported in a study in Tanzania (Masamha, et al, 2018a) and another in Nigeria (Coker et al, 2017). Coker et al (2017) found that in Nigeria, limited access to credit is a constraint for both men and women but more so for women; 100 percent of women rice farmers interviewed reported limited access to credit compared to 65 percent of men.…”

“…Finally, limited access to credit for women compared to men is reported in a study in Tanzania (Masamha, et al, 2018a) and another in Nigeria (Coker et al, 2017). Coker et al (2017) found that in Nigeria, limited access to credit is a constraint for both men and women but more so for women; 100 percent of women rice farmers interviewed reported limited access to credit compared to 65 percent of men. Tindall and Holvoet (2008) find that women fish traders in Mali have less access to credit and financial services than men.…”

“…Masamha et al (2018a) mention cultural norms give men land rights and limit women's ability to own/access land in Tanzania; land is typically allocated to men from their parents when they marry. Four studies (Coker et al, 2017;Fonjong et al, 2013;Grace, 2004;Linonge-Fontebo, 2018) provided comparable findings on land inheritance, saying that land was mainly inherited by male family members and that women had limited control over it. Coker et al (2017) find that in Nigeria, male rice farmers inherit land (90 percent) while women borrow or use communal land (76 percent).…”

“…Four studies (Coker et al, 2017;Fonjong et al, 2013;Grace, 2004;Linonge-Fontebo, 2018) provided comparable findings on land inheritance, saying that land was mainly inherited by male family members and that women had limited control over it. Coker et al (2017) find that in Nigeria, male rice farmers inherit land (90 percent) while women borrow or use communal land (76 percent). Seventy-six percent of women had trouble accessing land, while only nine percent of men encountered such problems.…”

Do Female Managers Affect Productivity? Evidence from Zimbabwean Manufacturing Firms

“…In their study which investigated the farmers’ productivities and competitiveness, Coker et al . () employed descriptive and inferential statistics on a case study of rice farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. The results suggested that partial factor productivity labour (PFP‐Labour) was higher for men compared to that of women, implying that female rice farmers were less productive than their male counterparts.…”