Gender Constraints in Small-Holder Cocoyam Production in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria

Okoye, A.C and Dimelu, M.U and Okoye, B.C and Agwu, A.E (2008): Gender Constraints in Small-Holder Cocoyam Production in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State Nigeria. Forthcoming in: Agricultural Society of Nigeria No. 43 (21 October 2009)

Abstract

The study presents the results of analysis of data collected on 120 cocoyam farmers (60 females and 60 males) across the two Agricultural blocks in Enugu North Agricultural Zone using the multi-stage randomized sampling technique. Descriptive statistical tool (percentages) was used in analyzing farmer’s production problems. The survey reviewed that most of the farmers (males and females) encountered problems of root rot disease as a result of storage and lack of storage facilities. Both farmers encountered the problem of limited land, labour unavailability lack of credit facilities, distance from farm to market, pest and diseases etc. These constraints constitute serious impediments to cocoyam production and need to be addressed adequately through policy advocacy.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Gender, Cocoyam and Small-Holder Farmers
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q19 - Other; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q10 - General

References

Iwuoha, C and Kalu, F. A. (1995) Calcium Oxalate and Physico-Chemical Properties of Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosona sagittifolium) Tuber Flours as affected by processing. In: Food Chemistry 54:61-66

Knipscheer, H.C. and Wilson, F.E. (1981) Cocoyam Farming Systems in Nig. Agric. Economic discussion paper. IITA, Ibadan Nigeria. (10) and (80).

NRCRI Annual Report (2002). National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Umuahia.

Dorp, M and Rulkens, T. (1993). Farmer Crop Selection Criteria and Gene Bank Collections in Indonesia, In: Boef W, Amanor K, Wellard K, Bebbington A (Eds). Cultivating Knowledge: Genetic Diversity, Farmer Experimentation and Crop Research. London, intermediate technology publications.Pp.119-127

Agwu, A. E (2002). Cowpea Varietal Needs of Farmers in Bauchi and Gombe States of Nigeria, J. Tropical Agric. Food, Environ. Ext. Volume 3 (1): Pp. 55- 62.

Springer, A., Mattas, K., Papastefanou, G.T and Tsioumanis, A. (2002). Comparing Consumer Attitudes towards Genetically Modified Food in Europe. Mimeo.

Kimenju, S.C., De Groote H., Karugia, J., Mbogoh, S and Poland, D. (2005). Consumer awareness and attitudes toward GM foods in Kenya. Afr. J. Biotechnol. Vol. 4 (10): pp. 1066-1075.

Ogbimi,G.E and William, S.E (2000).”Assesment of the Availability of Productive Assets to Women in Agricultural Development” .Agricultural Extension and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria. Olowu T.A(ed), Proceedings of the 16th Annual National Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria,April10th-12th,Pp56-64

Ezike, J.O. (1998). Delineation of Old and New Enugu State Bulletin . Ministry of Works, Land and Survey, Enugu State.

Nwauzor E.C. (2001). Nematode Problems and Solution of Food and Tuber Crops in Nigeria. In: Akoroda, M.O and Ngere, J.M. (eds) Proceedings of the 7th Technical Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC). Cotonou, Oct 11-17, 1998: 545-552.

Njoku, P.C. (2008). Nigeria Agriculture and the Challenges of the 29th Century Agro-Science Journal of Tropical Agriculture, Food, Environment and Extension. Vol 1(1): 42-53.