Agricultural Journal

Year: 2007
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Page No. 108 - 111

Gender Participation of Melon Farmers in Ibarapa Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Authors : Stella O. Odebode

Abstract: Melon is a very useful economic crop for local consumption and industrial purposes. It is useful industrially in the manufacturing of margarine, soap, pomade, adhesives, candles and lubricants. The essence of this study is to analyze gender roles in melon production activities in Oyo state. A simple random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty out of the one thousand, two hundred registered melon farmers of the Farmers Development Union of Ibarapa local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Data collected were gender disaggregated through frequency counts, percentages and T-test analysis. Personal interviews were carried out using interview schedule containing both closed and open ended questions based on the objective of the study. The results revealed that both male and female farmers engage in melon production activities[Male 99%, Female 97%]. The result also showed that tasks performed in melon production activities by both male and female was very high. Most of the adult males are engagedin various tasks which include land clearing, planting and weeding, while the adult females were engaged in seed selection, fertilizer application, seed extraction, washing, seed drying and bagging. T-test analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the male and female level of involvement in melon production among farmers in the Ibarapa area of Oyo state (T = 17.65, p = 2.358). The policy implication of this study for extension is that there is need to intensify extension efforts in providing information to both male and females on improving melon production.This will help to improve the standard of living of melon farmers in Oyo state and Nigeria in general.

How to cite this article:

Stella O. Odebode , 2007. Gender Participation of Melon Farmers in Ibarapa Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Agricultural Journal, 2: 108-111.

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