International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Idu EE, Fadiji TO and Osho-Lagunju Bankole

abstract
This research examined the influence of socio-economic attributes on women farmers' access to quality-improved rice seeds in north-central Nigeria. We used primary data for this study. A sample size of three hundred fifty-six (356) smallholder women rice farmers was calculated using a multi-staged random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and logit model analysis were used to analyze the data. Most of the respondents were married (54.21%). The respondents' average household size, age and farm size were 7.44, 39.69 years, and 1.86 hectares, respectively. The result also reveals that most women (52.81%) farmers had access to credit in the study area. In addition, most (68.54%) of the female farmers were members of cooperative societies. The regression result reveals that access to credit was positive and significant at a 1% probability. It implies that there is a direct relationship between access to credit and access to quality-improved seed. It means that greater access to credit for women farmers will result in greater access to quality, improved seed. Membership in cooperatives was positive and significant at a 5% probability level. This shows that membership in cooperatives positively influences access to improved seeds. Membership in cooperative societies grants farmers access to information, credits, and inputs and allows them to save. The result showed that farm size had a significant influence of 1% on access to improved seed and positively influenced access to improved seed. The result further revealed that extension contact was meaningful at a 5% probability level and positively affected access to improved seed. It shows a direct relationship between extension contact and access to improved seed, which implies that as the women farmers have more contact with extension agents, the level of access to enhanced seed among them increases. The logistic regression result concluded that women farmers' access to improved seeds are significantly influenced by their access to credit, farm size, membership in cooperative societies, and access to extension services. In line with the findings of this study, we recommend that private organizations and the government design quality extension programs focusing on rural women. This will ensure that they are adequately equipped with information on improved seeds, where to access them and the cultural practices they should adopt. Quality seed should be affordable and within reach of women through subsidy schemes and the provision of agricultural credits. Interventions that enhance the knowledge and skills of women farmers should be prioritized while reinforcing their access to supporting and complementary resources, inputs, and services.