GENDER DISPARITY IN TUBER CROP PRODUCTION IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA: A STOCHASTIC FRONTIER ANALYSIS APPROACH

• F. O. Aminu

  Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

  Author

• O. O. Ojo

  Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

  Author

• H. A. Mohammed

  Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

  Author

• E. O. S. Balogun

  Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

  Author

• A. F. Morakinyo

  Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

  Author

Tuber crops, which play vital roles in human diet are insufficient in their production and this is a major concern to both male and female farmers. However, there exists gender disparity in access to, and utilization of production inputs such as land, capital and labour in agricultural production which limits the production capacity of female farmers. This study therefore examined gender disparity in tuber crop production in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 60 male and 60 female tuber crop farmers in the study area. Data were collected with the aid of pre-tested questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale and stochastic frontier analysis, while chi-square and Z-test were employed to test the hypotheses of the study. Results revealed that 96.9% of the male and 73.6% of the female tuber crop farmers were married with an average household size of 7 and 6 persons respectively and a mean farm size of 1.5ha for the male and 0.9ha for the female farmers in the study area. Results also revealed that male farmers were more involved in tuber crop production activities and had higher access to production resources than the female farmers in the study area. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed a mean efficiency score of 0.87 for male and 0.76 for female farmers, indicating that the male farmers were more technically efficient than their female counterparts. Age, education, ownership of farmland and credit access were factors influencing technical efficiency of male farmers, while that of the female farmers included age, off-farm activities and extension visits. Therefore, government and community leaders should intensify efforts aimed at removing all bottlenecks and cultural practices that limit female farmers' access to productive resources such as farmland, labour and capital for improved efficiency. Also programs and policies that will make farming a more attractive enterprise to both male and female farmers, especially the youth, should be established and implemented by all tiers of government in the study area.

1. F. O. Aminu, Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

   Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

2. O. O. Ojo, Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

   Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

3. H. A. Mohammed, Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

   Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

4. E. O. S. Balogun, Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

   Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

5. A. F. Morakinyo, Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

   Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus, P. M. B. 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria *E-mail: folajy2003

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