International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Abali I, Emerhirhi E and Ogunu-Ebiye UG

abstract
The research aimed to evaluate the extent of women's participation in cassava farming within rural communities of Rivers State. To accomplish this, specific objectives were established to outline the socio-economic characteristics of the participants, assess the level of involvement of rural women in cassava cultivation, and identify the challenges hindering effective participation in this agricultural activity. The study was conducted in the Orashi region of Rivers State using a multi-stage sampling method. Initially, four local government areas within the Orashi region were purposefully selected. Subsequently, five communities were randomly chosen from each of these areas, resulting in a total of twenty communities. From each community, six cassava farmers were selected, culminating in a sample size of one hundred and twenty respondents who were interviewed. Data collection involved structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), alongside secondary sources such as journals, online resources, and other printed materials to gather relevant information. Descriptive statistical methods, including frequency counts, percentages, means, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), were employed for data analysis. The findings indicated that 90% of the respondents were aged between 50 and 60 years, with 60% lacking formal education and 25% holding a senior school certificate as their highest educational qualification. Additionally, 60% of respondents were solely engaged in farming, while 40% combined farming with other entrepreneurial activities for their livelihood. High levels of participation among rural women were noted in various cultivation tasks, with weeding having a mean score of 2.80, followed by planting (2.70), sourcing planting materials (2.6), soil tillage (2.50), and harvesting (2.45). The null hypothesis tested was accepted, as the p-value of 0.974 exceeded the alpha level of 0.05. Furthermore, the study identified several constraints faced by rural women, including limited access to credit facilities, use of marginal land, lack of land ownership rights for women, and insufficient collaboration between government entities and rural populations. Consequently, the study recommended promoting group formation among rural women to enhance their influence in decision-making regarding land ownership and improve access to credit facilities.