ASSESSMENT OF EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF PRODUCTION INPUTS AMONG WOMEN RICE FARMERS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the study

Women’s work in agriculture has become more visible as their involvement in agricultural production has deepened in response to the economic opportunities in commercial agriculture and the rising need for them to provide for the household. Rural women play significant role in the production of food and cash crops and manage agricultural operations, involving crops, livestock and fish farming and are considered as part of the agricultural labour force (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2011). Rural women are also known to be involved in all farming operations such as planting, tinning, weeding, fertilizer application, harvesting, storing, processing and marketing. However, despite their increased involvement in agriculture, significant differences have been identified in the level of productivity of men and women (Lastarria-corhiel, 2006).

Agricultural inputs are the key considerations in the production of food for better livelihood. Rural households negotiate their livelihoods by obtaining access to agricultural inputs; land, labour and capital which lead to enhanced family wellbeing and sustainable use of these inputs (Anaglo et al., 2014). Without access to these (as is usual with rural women farmers), it is unlikely that production and income earning capacities can be improved on a sustainable basis. Adequate access to agricultural inputs among women farmers is needful if food production rates are to be enhanced in Nigeria especially given the increasing deficit in the food demand and supply gap in the country resulting from population growth exceeding food production growth (Satyavathi et al., 2010). There is an increasing recognition that ownership, access and control over crop production resources constitutes critical elements in the determination of the well-being of farm households.

Rice (Oryza spp) is a cereal crop which has become a staple food of considerable importance in many African countries, where its consumption among urban and rural poor households has increased considerably (West African Rice Development Association (WARDA), 2010). Rice is the second most important cereal crop in the world after wheat in terms of production (Okali, 2011). Nigeria ranks the highest as both producer and consumer of rice in the West Africa sub- region (Beke, 2011). Nigeria has  a rich history of rice production and consumption,  as indigenous rice species (Oryza glaberima) have been grown in Nigeria for years (WARDA, 2010).   Rice   has   overtime   developed   into   a   major   staple   crop   in   the   Nigerian diet, with a demand profile cutting across all regions. A variety of other factors have also cont ributed to this increased demand including rapid urbanization, acceleration in the population growth rate, increase in per capita income, and changes in family occupational structures (Damola, 2010).

Rural women farmers are important for increasing rice production and productivity. The role of women in Nigeria economic sector cannot be over emphasized. Women are the real driving force of the nation’s economy and are therefore crucial to the sustainable development of the country (Satyavathi et al., 2010). Although, rural women in some parts of Nigeria worked side by side with men in agricultural production with some marked division of labour among them. The role that women play and their position in meeting the challenges of agricultural production and development are quite dominant and prominent. Women have been the core subject of gender and ‘gender issues’ has been widely used to refer to disadvantages faced by women in the field of agriculture despite the theoretical meaning of gender as roles of males and females (Okali, 2011).

According to Bill and  Melinda Gates Foundation (2012), women in sub-Saharan  Africa constituted about 80% of the farm labour with better efficiency. Efficiency in today’s farming enterprise is a very important factor for productivity growth. In an economy where opportunities to use new technologies are limited. Efficiency study will indicate the possibility to increase productivity by reducing inefficiency without necessarily developing new technologies or increasing the resource base (Damola, 2010).

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Rural women have featured prominently in rice production enterprise, specifically; up to 70% of the rice produced in Africa comes from women (FAO, 2011). In Nigeria, women are considered ‘work-horse’ in rice production. They are responsible for 60% of the National produce (NBS, 2016). In Niger State, rice is traditionally regarded as a product of women. Women living in this area are having high knowledge about traditional farming methods of rice production. However, low productivity coupled with stiff competition posed by importers over the years has restrained the women farmers from earning significant returns from their investment and this has created rice production deficit (Merem et al., 2017). To minimize the effect of the rice production shortfalls on state demand, several efforts have been made by successive governments together with donor partners in a form of implemented projects to increase rice production.

In spite of all efforts, national and state average of rice production is relatively low compared to the expected annual yield. The gap between achievable yields under best farming practices and actual yields of rice ranges from 5.7 to 7 million metric tonnes (National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2016). By implication, rice importation in Niger State is still on the high side (545,700 metric tonnes yearly). This result has left so much to be desired on women’s effort in rice production hence calls for the need to increase production using productivity enhancing approach such as the use of improved rice seed, fertilizer and reduce technical inefficiency.

Effort to increase rice productivity and decrease resource-use inefficiency over the years has proved ineffective due to limiting factors such as: inadequate institutional support (access to credit, research and extension), inappropriate production system, inadequate basic infrastructures, production risk and inefficiency on the part of the farmers (Yiadom-Boakye et al., 2013).

In the mist of rice production challenges, national and state ministry of agriculture has outlined projections to double rice cultivation to reduce importation. The central question is; can women rice farmers improve on their technical efficiency to reduce production risk and help increase rice output? Over the years, many researchers and policy makers in Nigeria have focused their attention on the impact that technologies adoption have on increasing farm productivity and income (Ani, 2004; Fabiyi, 2007; Damisa and Yohanna, 2007; Ragasa et al., 2013). Thus, little literature exists on the efficiency of rural women utilization of production resources in rice farming. In light of this assertion, this study seeks to assess rural women efficiency in the utilization of rice production inputs in Niger State, Nigeria. Thus, the study aimed to answer the following research questions:

i.      what are the socio-economic characteristics of women rice farmers in the study area?

ii.      what are the extent of production inputs utilized by women rice farmers in the study area?

iii.       what is the efficient utilization of production inputs among women rice farmers in the study area?

iv.      what are the determinants of efficient utilization of production inputs among women rice farmers in the study area?

v.      what are the constraints associated with utilization of rice production inputs in the study area?

1.3      Aim and Objectives of the study

The aim of this study is to assess the efficient utilization of production inputs among women rice farmer in Niger State.

The specific objectives were to:

i.      describe the socio-economic characteristics of women rice farmers in the study area;

ii.      examine the extent of production inputs utilized by women rice farmers in the study area;

iii.     determine the efficient utilization of production inputs among women rice farmers;

iv.      examine the determinants of efficient utilization of production inputs among women rice farmers;

v.      examine the constraint associated with utilization of production inputs among women rice farmers

1.4       Hypothesis of the study

The null hypothesis that was tested for this study were;

H01: there is no significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of women rice farmers and efficiency of inputs utilization in rice production.

1.5       Justification of the Study

Investments in rice sector have been rising over the years as government and donor partners’ commitment to finance rice projects to increase productivity surges on. The ability of women rice farmers to increase productivity and reduce national imports depends on their level of technical efficiency as well as the knowledge and ability to reduce risk associated with inputs utilization. Thus, the study will help to identify the relevant variables within the socioeconomic, institutional and managerial factors that can improve the efficiency of rice farmers in the study area.

To this end, the study seeks to assess rural women’s efficiency in the utilization of rice production inputs in Niger State, Nigeria. Therefore, description of the socio-economic characteristics of women rice farmers will provide guide to relevant authorities for the development  of relevant  policies  that  are in  line with  farmers’ social  needs  which  will contribute to women efficiency in resources utilization. The result on the extent of inputs utilization and determinants of the extent of inputs utilization will serve as a veritable tool for policy makers and input suppliers in formulating policies that will favour women in accessing and utilizing production inputs.

Furthermore, the result on the efficiency of input utilization will also assist women in the study area to identify the need for effective and efficient utilization of production inputs in other to increase their productivity. The findings on the constraints to efficient utilization of production resources will also be useful to agricultural project/programme planners and implementers, donor agencies, project/programme supervising agencies, researchers and the general public in providing accessible solutions that could enhance women rice farmers’ productivity. Generally, the empirical results will serve as reference to other researchers by providing a basis upon which further studies can be conducted and as such a contribution to the existing knowledge of the subject matter.

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