Constraints to Productivity of Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Women Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the constraints to productivity of Cooperative Societies and Non Cooperative Women Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Data for the study were derived from purposively selected local government area, (Baruteen, Patigi, Asa, Moro and Irepodun). Thirty two (32) respondents were randomly selected from each of the five local government areas, that is, sixteen (16) cooperators and sixteen (16) non-cooperator Women Farmers, giving a total of 160 respondents. Descriptive statistics and Mann Whitney were used to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the women farmers cooperator and non-cooperators and the productivity among the respondents respectively. The results showed that majority (82.6%) and (58.8%) of the women farmers cooperator and non-cooperator respectively were 49 years or less, (80%) and (50%) of cooperator and non-cooperator were married. Major constraints faced by the cooperator women famers on their productivity level is poor road network the X2 = 111.728 and statistically significant at (1%) and for non-cooperators is inadequate financial assistance the X2 =173.000 and statistically significant at (1%) using Kruskal. The Man-Whitney result revealed a significant relationship between source of capital for investment (Z = 1.865, P<0.05), level of education (Z = 1.792, P<0.037) and farm size (Z = 1.843 P<0.040).