Rural women's participation in agriculture : implications for poverty reduction and development in Nigeria

Abstract

Agriculture is identified as the viable route out of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural women are major players in this highest GDP contributing sector in Nigeria although they remain poor. Disincentives have entrenched subsistence agriculture chiefly among rural women and the threat of agriculture abandonment exists. This research reviews rural women‘s involvement in agriculture and its impact on poverty reduction using case study approach. The research employed the sustainable rural livelihood approach to interrogate policies and structures as demonstrated in initiatives and rural agricultural practices using primary (key informant interviews and focus group discussions) and secondary data collection and analysis. The findings revealed that women dominate rural agricultural sector though at subsistence level but can contribute to rural poverty reduction incidence and to development in general if their human capital is enabled to intersect favourably with other harnessed assets for livelihood options required for their continuous stay in the sector.