FACTORS INFLUENCING URBAN WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN VEGETABLE FARMING IN OWERRI, IMO STATE.

ABSTRACT

The desires of women for financial independence and contribution to family income made women to be involved in vegetable entrepreneurial activities in order to meet up with the family demands and also contribute substantially towards their community. This study analyzed the factors influencing women participation in vegetable farming in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; examine the socioeconomic characteristics of urban vegetable farmers in Owerri, determine the level of women access to farm land and production inputs in the study area, identify the factors influencing urban women in vegetable production in the study area, ascertain the level of women participation in vegetable farming in urban area of Owerri and identify the challenges confronting women participation in vegetable farming in the study.A multistage sampling technique was employed in this study. Data for this study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaire administered through interview schedule to seventy six (76) randomly selected respondents from the study area. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while Regression analysis and Linear Regression were used to analyze the hypotheses of the study. Results from the descriptive statistic showed that majority (73.7%) of the respondents were married. The mean age, mean household size and mean average annual income were 47.54years, 5.61 members and N288,276.32 respectively. Furthermore, the result showed that majority (62.6%) of the respondents had farming experience of between 6 to 15 years and majority (78.9%) had farm size less than a plot of land. The study showed that most women had difficulties in their access to land, though there were no cultural restrictions to land accessibility and some women were land owners. Further, the result showed that majority (97.4%) of the respondents identified access to credit as the major factor influencing urban vegetable farming. Also, majority (98.7%) suggested provision of credits as the major strategy towards encouraging vegetable production. All stages of urban women participation in vegetable farming had above the benchmark mean of above 2.0 and were adjudged as high participation. High cost of transportation, lack of storage or processing facilities and low shelf life were some of the significant constraints to women participation in vegetable farming with all above the mean benchmark of 2.5. Results of regression analysis showed that age, household size and farming experience were the significant socio-economic variables that correlated with the participation of urban women in vegetable farming at 5% level of probability. The study concluded that access to credit was the major disturbing factor influencing urban women vegetable farming, therefore credits and subsidy to inputs should be made available for women who cultivate vegetable to support their production