CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Women play a major role in Nigerian agriculture, particularly in food crop production, processing and marketing. In the cassava sector, women are heavily involved in processing activities such as the production of garri, fufu and other products. Udemezue et al. (2023), in a study of cassava farmers in Delta State, reported that most of the farmers were women and that women took part in cassava planting, weeding, harvesting and processing, though they faced problems such as high cost of processing equipment, lack of credit and inadequate extension.

Value addition is the set of activities that transform a raw farm product into a more valuable form, for example by processing, packaging, preserving or branding it. It raises income, reduces post-harvest losses and creates employment. Jacob et al. (2023) found that cassava farmers in Oshimili North, Delta State, who practised value addition earned significantly higher incomes than those who did not, and that education, farm size, farming experience, access to credit and cooperative membership influenced the practice. They recommended that extension agents be empowered to create awareness of and train farmers in value addition. Improved processing technology has also been highlighted as important for the cassava industry in Nigeria (Kolawole et al., 2010).

Extension services can support women’s adoption of value-addition practices by providing training in processing methods, hygiene and quality, linking women to equipment and credit, and organising them into groups. In Abia State, Anyiro and Onyemachi (2014) studied the adoption of cassava value-added innovations by rural women and its implications for rural livelihoods. However, women often have less access to extension, credit and land than men, and this may limit what they can do with new knowledge.

Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa State is a riverine area in the Niger Delta where farming, fishing and trading are common livelihoods and where cassava is grown and processed by many households; Morgan et al. (2021) analysed the economics of cassava production in the area. Ogbia and Imiringi communities are farming settlements where women are prominent in food crop production and processing. There is little documented evidence on how agricultural extension services have influenced these women’s adoption of value-addition practices, and this study is designed to provide it.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Value addition offers women farmers a way to raise their incomes and reduce losses, yet in many rural communities most farm produce is still sold raw or processed by traditional, labour-intensive methods. Studies point to constraints such as lack of capital, high cost of processing inputs, poor storage and infrastructure, and too few extension agents to teach new processing innovations (Jacob et al., 2023; Udemezue et al., 2023).

In Ogbia and Imiringi communities, it is not known whether women farmers receive extension services on value addition, what kind of services they receive, and how far these services have led to the adoption of improved processing and value-addition practices. Without this information, extension programmes may continue to overlook the needs of women. This study therefore investigates the influence of agricultural extension services on women farmers’ adoption of value-addition practices in Ogbia and Imiringi communities, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to determine the influence of agricultural extension services on women farmers’ adoption of value-addition practices in Ogbia and Imiringi communities, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State. The specific objectives are to:

(1) describe the socio-economic characteristics of the women farmers in the study area;

(2) identify the value-addition practices known to and used by the women farmers;

(3) determine the extension services on value addition available to the women farmers;

(4) determine the extent of adoption of value-addition practices by the women farmers;

(5) determine the influence of extension services on the women’s adoption of value-addition practices; and

(6) identify the constraints to the adoption of value-addition practices by women farmers in the study area.

1.4 Research Questions

(1) What are the socio-economic characteristics of the women farmers in the study area?

(2) What value-addition practices are known to and used by the women farmers?

(3) What extension services on value addition are available to the women?

(4) What is the extent of adoption of value-addition practices among the women?

(5) What is the influence of extension services on the women’s adoption of value-addition practices?

(6) What constraints hinder women’s adoption of value-addition practices in the study area?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses will be tested at the 5% level of significance:

H01: Agricultural extension services have no significant influence on women farmers’ adoption of value-addition practices in the study area.

H02: There is no significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the women (age, education, income, access to credit and group membership) and their adoption of value-addition practices.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will help the Bayelsa State Agricultural Development Programme, non-governmental organisations and other extension providers to design value-addition training that responds to the needs of women. Women farmers will benefit from recommendations that can improve their access to knowledge, equipment and credit. Policy makers can use the findings to promote gender-responsive extension and rural enterprise programmes in the Niger Delta. The study also contributes to the literature on gender, extension and agricultural value chains in Nigeria.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study covers women farmers in Ogbia and Imiringi communities of Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. It is limited to agricultural extension services as the independent variable and women’s adoption of value-addition practices, such as the processing and preservation of their farm produce, as the dependent variable. Socio-economic characteristics and constraints are included as supporting variables.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

The study is limited to two communities, so its results may not represent all women farmers in Bayelsa State. Riverine terrain and seasonal flooding may make some respondents difficult to reach. Women may also be busy with farm, household and market duties, which could limit the time available for interviews. To reduce these problems, the researcher will use female enumerators where appropriate, schedule interviews at convenient times and use a simple, pre-tested questionnaire.

1.9 Definition of Terms

(1) Value addition: Any activity that transforms a raw agricultural product into a form of higher market value, such as processing, packaging or preservation.

(2) Women farmers: Women who are engaged in crop production, processing or marketing as a major source of livelihood.

(3) Agricultural extension services: Educational and advisory services that provide farmers with knowledge, skills and technologies.

(4) Adoption: The decision to accept and continue using an improved practice.

(5) Value-addition practices: Improved methods of processing, preserving and packaging farm produce, for example the production of garri, fufu, cassava flour and starch.

References

Anyiro, C. O., & Onyemachi, A. D. (2014). Adoption of cassava value added innovation and its implication on rural livelihood: A case of rural women in Abia State, Nigeria. Paper presented at the 9th African Economic Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Jacob, A., Adam, S. U., & Fausat, A. F. (2023). Effects of cassava value addition on the income of small scale farmers in Oshimili North, Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of Arid Zone Economy, 1(2), 89–102.

Kolawole, P. O., Agbetoye, L., & Ogunlowo, S. A. (2010). Sustaining world food security with improved cassava processing technology: The Nigeria experience. Sustainability, 2(12), 3681–3694.

Morgan, N. C., Wasini, D. A., & Larry, I. E. (2021). Economic analysis of cassava production in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. International Journal of Life Science Research Archive, 1(2), 1–8.

Udemezue, et al. (2023). Contributions of women in cassava production and processing activities among farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Agricultural Extension Journal, 7(1).