Assessment of Women Participation in Rice Production value Chain in Cross River State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63561/fnas-jmse.v6i4.922Keywords:
Women Participation, Rice Value Chain, Rice Production Constraint, Agriculture, Cross River StateAbstract
With an emphasis on identifying the barriers women encounter in rice production activities, this study evaluates their involvement in the value chain of rice production in Cross River State, Nigeria. The three agricultural zones in the state that are actively involved in the rice value chain were the sites of the investigation. 284 women in all were chosen from different blocks and cells within the zones using a multi-stage sampling technique. The study aimed to ascertain the level of women’s involvement in rice production and highlight the factors hindering their participation. Findings revealed that most women sourced rice seeds from local markets (56.1%) and previous
harvests (39.2%), with limited access to improved seed varieties or extension services. Additionally, women primarily engaged in manual rice production activities, with very few using mechanized methods. The study further identified key constraints affecting women’s participation, including the high cost of fuel (ranked 1st), poor access to credit (2nd), illiteracy (3rd), inadequate training (4th), and limited access to extension services (5th). These constraints were found to significantly impede their ability to engage in large-scale rice production. The lack of mechanization and insufficient technical support were particularly limiting factors. The findings demonstrated how important fuel and loan availability are to raising women's participation and productivity in the rice value chain. The study comes to the conclusion that boosting women's participation in rice production requires tackling these obstacles with focused interventions, such as more inexpensive fuel, better finance availability, improved automation, and increased extension services. For women in Cross River State, these adjustments may result in increased economic empowerment, increased productivity, and better socioeconomic results. According to the report, policy changes are necessary to increase women's access to landed resources and guarantee their long-term involvement in agricultural value chains.
References
Abdulmumini M., Tayne, Liverpool, T., Awokuse, T., & Adelaja, A. (2022). Changing farm structure and agricultural commercialization in Nigeria/ Future Agricultures Consortium. https://www.futureagricultures. org/publications/. Accessed 17th April, 2024.
Aboh, C. L., & Effiong, J. B. (2019a). Adoption of different weed management techniques among cocoa farmers in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Science, 25(1), 7–12.
Aboh, C. L., & Effiong, J. B. (2019b). Contributions of vegetable production to food security in Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Science, 25(1), 1–6.
Akano, O. I., Oderinde, F. O. & Abiondu, O. A. (2023). Agricultural yield, food nutrition and dietary energy supply in Nigeria: Evidence from nationally representative data. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research., 100525.
Alawa, D., Okeme, I., & Emani, D. A. (2015); Contributions of Rural Women to Household Food Security in Northern Agro-Ecological zone of Cross River State. African Journal of Vocational Education. 5(1).
Ben, C. F. (2015). The role of rural women farmers in household food security in Cross River State. https://www.eldis.org/document/A75368. Accessed May, 19th 2024.
Buehren, N., Goldstein, M., Molina, E. & Vaillant, J. (2019). The impact of strengthening agricultural extension service on women farmers. Evidence from Ethiopia. Agricultural Economics (United Kingdom). 50(4), 407 - 419.
Davis, K., Lion K. & Arokoyo, T. J. (2019). Management of Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria: Current Status.South African Journal of Agricultural Extension (SAJAE). Vol. 47(2) DOI:10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n2a508. Accessed 18th October, 2023.
Effiong, J. B & Iheme, M. N. (2024). Effectiveness of New media technologies on agricultural production among Rural households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Agricultural Science Digest 44 (6), 1050-1055
Effiong, J. B. & Etim, O. U. (2024). Utilization of plastic materials in agricultural production among agroenterprise owners in Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 31 (2), 261-272.
Effiong, J. B. (2013). Challenges and prospects of rural women in agricultural production in Nigeria. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 10(2), 183–190.
Effiong, J. B. (2024a). Influence of socioeconomic variables and extension inhibitors on food sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 24(10), 24710–24724.
Effiong, J. B. (2024b). Right to food policies, justice, and sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 24(10), 24871–24892.
Effiong, J. B. Etuk, A. & Iyamah, D. A. (2023). Perceived determinants of oil spillage on agricultural lands in Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. African Journal of food Agriculture Nutrition and Development. 23 (20 22397 - 22409
Effiong, J. B., & Aboh, C. L. (2018). Rubber production technologies and the related socioeconomic environments in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Science, 17(1), 15–22.
Effiong, J. B., & Aboh, C. L. (2019). Effect of agro-chemicals on the health of farmers in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State. European Journal of Scientific Research, 154(1), 142–147.
Effiong, J. B., & Aboh, C. L. (2024). Effectiveness of agricultural extension models in food crop production in Cross River State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 24(3), 25871–25881.
Effiong, J. B., & Asikong, A. B. (2013). Mid-term assessment of the activities of Fadama III development project in Cross River State. Global Journal of Agricultural Science, 12(1), 31–35.
Effiong, J. B.(2012). Youth participation in community development: Evidence from Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State. International Journal of Social Science, 1(6).
Effiong, J. B., Aboh, C. L., & Aya, C. F. (2021). Perception of farmers on the contribution of vegetables to livelihoods in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Science, 27(2), 82–91.
Effiong, J. B., Aboh, C. L., & Azu, S. B. (2024). Effect of road infrastructure on food sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 24(10), 24852–24870.
Effiong, J. B., Asuquo, G.E., Azu, S.B., & Ajao, Q.O (2025). Emerging technologies in fish farming among agricultural science teachers in Calabar Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria. FNAS Journal of Mathematics and Science Education, 6(2), 124-129.
Effiong, J. B., Azu, S. B., Ekpenyong, U. C., & Etim, O. U., (2025). Socioeconomic factors and challenges affecting adoption of extension strategies among rural farmers in Calabar South Local Government Area,
Cross River State, Nigeria. Faculty of Natural and applied Sciences Journal of Scientific innovations 6(2) 44 - 50
Effiong, J. B., Ijioma, J. C., & Effiong, M. O. (2016). Endogenous determinants of adoption of improved rubber production technologies among farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, 8(4), 2–7.
Ejike, R. D., Osuji, E. E., Effiong, J. A. L. & Agu, C. G. (2018). Gender dimension in agricultural food value chain development in Nigeria: The women perspective. International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science. 4, 37 - 45.
Ejiko, S., Omojola, S. E. & Olaniyi, D. (2023). Development of Rice Plants Avian Repellant Manipulative Scarecrow using Solar Interruption Technique. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375417343. Accessed 19th November, 2024.
Etim, O. U., & Effiong, J. B. (2022). An evaluation of the benefits of the use of flexible and non-flexible plastic materials among agro-enterprise owners in the Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science, 8(5).
Etim, O. U., Effiong, J. B., Okoi, K. O., & Ntui, O. E. (2022). Climate change impact on the use of plastic products among agro-marketers and horticultural enterprises in Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State. International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science, 8(1), 64–76.
https://doi.org/10.56201/ijgem.v8.no1.2022.pg64.76
Food Agricultural Organization. (2018).The future of food and Agriculture and challenges. https://www.fao.org/3/i6583e/i6583e.pdf. Accessed 3rd June, 2024.
Hossain, M., & Fischer, K. S. (1995). Rice Research for Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development in Asia; Achievements and Future challenges. GeoJournal, 35, 286-298. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00989136. Accessed 28th July, 2024.
Ijioma, J. C., Effiong, M. O., & Okolies, N. O. (2014). Small-scale farmers' perception in cassava (Manihot esculenta) production in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 9(4), 56–65.
Mohammad, M. R. & Connor, J. D. (2022). Causal relationship between high-yielding rice variety, rice productivity, farm income and household nutrition. Agric & Food Secur 11, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-022-00365-6. Accessed on 10th August, 2024.
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2014).Gender dimensions to livelihoods in Nigeria: general household survey panel (GHS-Panel) Pp. 10. https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/pdfuploads/LSMS-ISA (General Household Survey Panel)-Gender Dimensions.pdf. accessed on 24th March, 2024.
Nkang, M. O., & Effiong, J. B. (2015). The influence of consumers' perception on pork and poultry meat consumption in Calabar South Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal Name Unknown (as it is missing from the provided information). Ntui, O. E., Effiong, J. B., Etim, O. U., & Okoi, K. O., (2022). An assessment of the factors inhibiting the use of plastic materials among selected Agro-Enterprises and farmers in Calabar Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science (IJAES) E-ISSN 2489-0081 P-ISSN 2695-1894 Vol 8. No. 5 2022 www.iiardjournals.org
Okwu, O. J. & Umoru, B. I. (2018). A Study of women farmers’ agricultural information needs and accessibility. A case study of Apa local government area of Imo state, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research. 4 (12), 1404-1409.
Quilter, L. (2022). Building women and girls’ resilience to climate change. https://www.itad.com/article/. Accessed on April 10th 2023.
Research Clue. (2019).Analysis of labor use and food security among rural maize farmers in Odede LGA, Ogun State. https://nairaproject.com/projects/3581.html. [Accessed: 2024-2-18]. Accessed on 29th August, 2024.
Udegbunam, O. (2021). Besides insecurity, land rights hamper Nigerian women’s farming efforts. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/agriculture/agric-special-reports-and-investigations/477320. Accessed on 19th May, 2024.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (2023). https://www. usaid.gov/. Accessed on 15th May, 2024.
