ABSTRACT

The study examined the determinants of rice production by women 1-ice farmers in Ayamclum Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives included the identification of socio-economic characteristics of women rice farmers; identification of the sources of farm inputs to women rice larmers; identi[Ication ol tile vari)Us constraints encountered by women nec farmers in the study area and the ascertainment of the factors that determine rice production by women farmers in the study area. Data were gathered with the aid of pre-tested questionnaire. A total sample size of 120 women farmers were used in the study using multi-stage random sampling. Analytical tools used were simple frequency distribution table, percentage and multiple regression. Results revealed that (50%) of the respondents were within economically productive age. However, 50% of the respondents were married, 36.7% of the respondents had household size of 1-3 persons, 31.7% had no formal education, 50% of respondents had farming experience of 11-20 years while majority (700/u) of the respondent had 1-2 hectares and 54% of the respondents were full-time farmers. Results further revealed that 50% of WOCfl rice farmers son reed 1hcir inputs From open markets, while 55.8% of labour were family members plus hired labour. The major problems militating against rice PrO(lUCtiOfl by women rice farmers include; lafl(l acquisition (97.5%), inadequate credit facilities (75.8%), poor quality seed 35.8% and lack of storage facilities 36.7%. The multiple regression results showed that the significant variables influencing output of rice were age of the farmer, farming experience, fertilizer, farm size, other variable inputs, household size and level of educational attainment of the farmer. It was therefore recommended that a workable land reform policy should be embarked upon by Govcrnment to enable women rice farmers to acquire land easily. The financial institutions should give credit facilities to women 1-icc farmers to enable them to improve on their production capacities. Finally, a more workable and scientific storage system should be provided to women rice farmers to i'cducc storage waste and iflvarial)iy encourage large-scale production of rice.