IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH (IJSSMR )

E-ISSN 2545-5303
P-ISSN 2695-2203
VOL. 10 NO. 7 2024
DOI: 10.56201/ijssmr.v10.no7.2024.pg208.217

---

Analysis of Gender Differentials in the Acquisition of Productive Assets among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

T. Adam, Z.T. Nyiatagher, A. M. Okeke

---

Abstract

This study analyzed gender differentials in the acquisition of productive assets among smallholder rice farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. Utilizing a sample of 269 rice farmers selected through random sampling from six LGAs, data was gathered via structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests were employed to evaluate the types and values of productive assets acquired by male and female farmers. The findings reveal significant gender disparities in asset acquisition. Male farmers had higher total values in most asset categories, including agricultural credit, improved rice varieties, hired labor, and modern inputs such as NPK and UREA fertilizers. Specifically, males acquired agricultural credit worth ?139,000,000 compared to ?48,442,532 for females, and improved rice varieties worth ?9,645,000 compared to ?3,743,843 for females. The mean acquisition of productive assets for male farmers (?9,463,804.59) significantly exceeded that for female farmers (?1,811,698.27), highlighting substantial gender-based differences. An independent samples t-test confirmed these disparities, with a significant mean difference of ?7,652,106.32 (p < .05). These disparities suggest that male farmers have greater access to and ownership of productive assets, potentially limiting female farmers' productivity and economic empowerment. The study recommended that female farmers in the Benue State should come together to form cooperatives so as to pool their resources together and acquire productive assets hitherto difficult to acquire among them as individual farmers; and policies and programs that promote asset ownership and decision-making by female farmers within the agricultural system should be implemented by the Benue State government.

keywords:

Gender Differentials; Acquisition; Productive Assets; Smallholder; Rice Farmers;

---

References:

Abdul, A. (2019). Benue State History, Local Government Areas and Senatorial Districts.
Retrieved from https://www.aziza.com.ng/.
Ajuwon, A.O., Ajah, J. and Idu, E.E. (2021). Analysis of Gender Access to Farm Inputs among
Small-scale Crop Farmers in the North Central Zone of Nigeria. Direct Research
Journal of Agriculture and Food Science, 9: 375-380
Anigbogu, T.U., Uzondu, C.S. and Nduka, H.O. (2018). Gender Disparity in Farmers Access to
Agric Credit among Members of Cooperative Societies in Ogbaru Local Government
Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Open Journal of Economics and Commerce, 1(1):
19-27
Ankrah, D.A., Freemn, C.Y. and Afful, A. (2020). Gendered Access to Productive Resources-
Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Awutu Senya West District of Ghana.
Scientific African, 10: 1-12
Anriquez, G. (2010). Demystifying the Agricultural Feminization Myth and the Gender Burden.
Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
Awuor, J.O., Mulwa, R.M.S. and Openda, N.O. (2021). Gender disparity in Cassava Farmers’
Access to Agricultural Productive Resources in Rongo Sub County, Migori County,
Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 17(9): 1161-1171
Brinkhoff, T. (2022). City Population: Statistics, Maps and Charts. Retrieved from
https://citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/NGA007_benue/.
Coker, A.A.A., Akogun, E.O., Adebayo, C.O., Mohammed, S., Nwojo, M., Sanusi, H. and Jimoh,
H.O. (2017). Gender Differentials among Subsistence Rice Famers and Willigness to
Undertake Agribusiness in Africa: Evidence and Issues from Nigeria. African
development Review, 29(2): 198-212
Deere, C.D. and Doss, C.R. (2006). Gender and the Distribution of Wealth in Developing
Countries. Research Paper 2006/115, UN-WIDER, Helsinki.
Deere, C.D. and Leon, M. (2003). The Gender Asset Gap: Land in Latin America. World
Development, 31(6): 925-947
Deere, C.D., Alvarado, G.E. and Twyman, J. (2009). Poverty, Headship and Gender Inequality,
Asset Ownership in Latin America. Paper presented for the 2009 Congress of the
Latin American Studies Association, Rio de Janeiro.
Dillon, A. and Quinones, E. (2009). Gender Differentiated Asset Dynamics in Northern Nigeria.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
Doss, C. and Morris, M. (2001). How Does Gender Affect the Adoption of Agricultural
Innovations? The Case of Improved Maize Technology in Ghana. Agricultural
Economics, 25: 27-39.
Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) (2017). Nigeria Market Monitoring
Bulletin. FEWS NET. Pp. 1-4
FAO (2009). The State of Food and Agriculture 2009: Livestock in the Balance. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
FAO (2011). The State of Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, Rome, Italy.
Ibirogba, F. (2022). Rice Pyramids and Nigeria’s Production Puzzle. Retrieved from
https://guardian.ng/features/
Jeiyol, E.N., Akpan, S.B. and Tee, T.N. (2013). Gender Analysis of Access to Credit by Rural
Small Scale Farmers in Benue state, Nigeria. American International Journal of Social
Science, 2(6): 70-78
Lusasi, J. and Mwaseba, D. (2020). Gender Inequality and Symbolic Violence in Women’s Access
to Family Land in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Land, 9:1-14
NPC (2006). National Population Commission Census Reports, Abuja, Nigeria.
Ogundele, O.O. & Badmus, M.A. (2020).Gender Gap and Credit Use in Smallholder Agriculture
in Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Scientific innovation, 7(9):355-362
Oladosu, I.O., Afolabi, J.O. and Buhari, A.K. (2018). Gender Differentials in the Accessibility of
Agricultural Production Resources among Yam Farmers in Saki Agricultural Zone of
Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research, 9(1):1-4
Olakojo, S.A. (2017). Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria: A Commodity Level
Analysis. Economics of Agriculture, 2: 415-435
Onubogu, O.H. (2023). Gender Differences in Agricultural Productivity among Rice Farmers in
Anambra State, Nigeria. Drivers and Strategies for a Gender Responsive Agriculture.
International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 7(1): 21-28
Oyediji, O., Ibitoye, O.S. and Oyetunji, P.O. (2019). The Effect of Gender Differentials in
Determining Access to Credit and Profitability among Dry Season Farmers in Ogun
State, Nigeria. World News of Natural Sciences, 24: 157-177.
Peterman, A., Quisumbing, A., Behrman, J. and Nkonya, E. (2010). Understanding Gender
Differences in Agricultural Productivity in Uganda and Nigeria. IFRI Discussion
Paper 01003, International Food Policy Research Institute. Pp.40
Raney, T., Anriquez, G. Croppenstedt, A., Gerosa, S., Lowder, S., Matuschka, I. and Skoet, J.
(2011). Gender Differences in Asset. ESA working Paper NO.11-12, Food and
Agriculture Organization, Rome Italy. Pp.35
Sasu, D.D. (2022) Production of Milled Rice in Nigeria 2010-2022. Retrieved from
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1134510/
Slavchevska, V., Doss, C.R., Campos, A.P.O. and Brunelli, C. (2021). Beyond Ownership:
Women’s and Men’s Land Rights in sub-Saharan Africa. Oxford Development
Studies, 49(1): 2-22
Susan, A. and Nirupama, N. (2015). A Serious Flooding Event in Nigeria in 2012 with Specific
Focus on Benue State: A Brief Review. Nat Hazards, 77: 1405-1414
Ukpe, W. (2022). Milled rice production in Nigeria to Increase by 10% in 2025 from 5million
Tonnes in 2022. Retrieved from https://nairametrics-com.cdn.ampproject.org/

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back