FROM FARM TO TABLE; ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN INAGRICULTURE TOWARDS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SELF RELIANCE (ACASE STUDY OF AFIJIO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE)

Abstract

The study assessed the critical roles of women in agriculture in Afijio Local Government area of Oyo State. Specifically, the study determined the effect of women’s participation in agriculture on food security; examined the impacts of women’s participation in agriculture towards selfreliance; evaluated the influence of women’s participation in agriculture on economic recovery; and compared women’s involvement in agricultural activities with their men counterparts. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 100farmers in Afijio Local Government area. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire. Data analysis and hypotheses testing were carried out using frequency distribution tables, simple percentages and chi-square. The findings revealed that women’s participation in agriculture boosted food security in Afijio Local Government (with X2 cal = 43.1> X2 tab = 21.026, at P<0.05 ). The study also indicated that women’s participation in agriculture led to self-reliance (with X2 cal = 29.02> X2 tab = 7.815, at P<0.05). Furthermore, the study revealed that women’s engagement in agriculture led to economic improvement and recovery in the study area (with X 2 cal = 76.63> X2 tab = 16.919, at P<0.05).However, the study showed that women’s involvement in agriculture was not as much as men did (with X2 tab = 12.15< X2 cal = 16.919, at P<0.05 significant level). It was concluded that women’s involvement in agriculture led to food sufficiency, self-reliance and economic recovery in Afijio Local Government of Oyo State.
However, women’s participation in agriculture was not as significant as that of men. It was recommended that government should encourage women to participate more in farming activities.