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Ageing and Resultant Changing Gender Roles of Farmers’ Involvement in Cocoa Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Received: 24 October 2019     Accepted: 21 November 2019     Published: 28 May 2020
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Abstract

Ageing is inevitable and it will undoubtedly affect farmers’ involvement in agricultural activities. The study examined the changing patterns of involvement of male and female in cocoa production activities as they age in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 90 males and 50 females cocoa farmers who were below 50 years and above 50 years for the research and were interviewed with structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the mean age for males was 54 years and 52 years for females. Involvement in organisation decision making was higher for male (48.8%) than for female (29.1%). The result of the four point Likert rating scale on changing pattern of involvement with respect to age showed that both male and female were always involved in all cocoa production activities when they were less than 50 years old. “Always involved” had the least of 55.8% for choosing of farm site and highest of 81.4% for marketing, hiring of labourers and sourcing for fund. However, females had low level of involvement for all the activities when they were above 50 years, while the males had high level of involvement for only two activities; marketing and sourcing for fund when above 50 years. The t-test result revealed a difference in the level of involvement of respondents when below 50 years and above 50 years with mean of 2.8 and 1.68 respectively, (t=4.68, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusively, age affected the involvement of farmers in most cocoa production activities. As a result, recruitment of younger farmers in cocoa production was recommended.

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11
Page(s) 39-44
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Age, Involvement, Gender, Farmers, and Cocoa

References
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[2] ICCO, (2018). Production Values. Available from: http://www.icco.org/faq/57.cocoa-production/123. Accessed Oct. 20, 2019.
[3] Shahbandeh, M. (2019): Cocoa Production by country. Retrieved online from www.statistics.com/statistics/263855/cocoa-bean-production-worldwide-by-region/.
[4] Bello, T and Mitchell, M. I. (2018): The Political Economy of Cocoa in Nigeria: A History of Conflict or Cooperation? Africa Today, Spring. 64 (3), 70-91.
[5] Olasupo, F. O. and Aikpokpodion, P. O. (2019): Cacao Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization for Sustainable Production in Nigeria. [Online First], IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82703.
[6] Aikpokpodion, P. O. and Adeogun, S. O. (2019): A Diagnostic Study of Constraints to Achieving Yield Potentials of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Varieties and Farm Productivity in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science, 3 (4); 68-76.
[7] Omotayo, A. M. (2010): The Nigerian Farmer and the Elusive Crown, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. 30th Inaugural Lecture.
[8] Hernandez-Deck, M. (2001): Older Farmers: Factors Affecting their Health and Safety. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001701-d001800/d0076.
[9] Oboh, V. and Sani, R. M. (2009). The Role of Radio on Campaign against the Spread of HIV/AIDS among Farmers in Markudi, Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 19 (3): 179-184.
[10] Gorman, M. (1999): Development and the Rights of Older People. In: Randel J, et al., eds. The Ageing and Development Report: Poverty, Independence and the World's Older People. London, Earthscan Publications Ltd. pages 3-21.
[11] Hauser, L. T., Van Der Sluis, T. and Giezen, M. (2016). The Role of farm Management Characteristics in Understanding the Spatial Distribution of Landscape Elements: A Case Study in the Netherlands, Rural Landscape; Society, Environment, History, 3 (1). 7: DOI: http://doi.org/10.16993/rl.14.
[12] Fasina, O. O. and Ayodele, O. V. (2018). Gender Analysis of Labour Use among Farmers in Cocoa Production Activities in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Food Environment. 5 (3): 48-57.
[13] Onumah, J. A., Williams, P. A., Quaye, W. and Akuffobea, M. (2014): Smallholder Cocoa Farmers Access to On/Off-Farm Support Services and its Contribution to Output in Eastern Region of Ghana. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 4 (10): 484-495.
[14] Aidoo, R. and Fromm, I. (2015). Willingness to Adopt Certific ations and Sustainable Production Methods among Small-Scale Cocoa Farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Development; 8 (1), 33. URL. http//dx.doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v8n1p33.
[15] Ayodele, O. V., Fasina, O. O. and Awoyemi, A. A. (2016): Gender Analysis of Farmers’ Access to Production Resources in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Tropical Agriculture. 21 (3): 131-137.
[16] Ademola, A. O. (2016). Livelihood outcomes of beneficiaries of university-based agricultural extension system in south-western Nigeria. Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan.
[17] Nkamleu, G. B., Nyemeck J. and Gockowski, J. (2010). Technology Gap and Efficiency in Cocoa Production in West and Central Africa: Implications for Cocoa Sector Development, Working Papers Series No. 104, African Development Bank, Tunisia.
[18] Alston, M. (2000): Breaking through the Grass Ceiling: Women, Power and Leadership in Agricultural Organizations Harwood Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.
[19] Enete A. A. and Amusa T. A. (2010): Contribution of Men and Women to Farming Decisions in Cocoa based Agroforestry Households of Ekiti State, Nigeria. TROPICULTURA, 28, 2, 77-83.
[20] Adeogun, S. O., J. E. Olawoye J. E., and Akinbile L. A. (2010): Information Sources to Cocoa Farmers on Cocoa Rehabilitation Techniques (CRTs) in Selected States of Nigeria Journal Media and Communication Studies 2 (1) 009-015.
[21] Wessel, M. and Quist-Wessel, P. M. F (2015). Cocoa Production in west Africa, a review and analysis of recent developments. NJAS – Wageningen Journal of Life sciences. Vol. 74-75. Pg. 1-7.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ayodele Omowunmi Veronica. (2020). Ageing and Resultant Changing Gender Roles of Farmers’ Involvement in Cocoa Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 9(3), 39-44. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11

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    ACS Style

    Ayodele Omowunmi Veronica. Ageing and Resultant Changing Gender Roles of Farmers’ Involvement in Cocoa Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Agric. For. Fish. 2020, 9(3), 39-44. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11

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    AMA Style

    Ayodele Omowunmi Veronica. Ageing and Resultant Changing Gender Roles of Farmers’ Involvement in Cocoa Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Agric For Fish. 2020;9(3):39-44. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11,
      author = {Ayodele Omowunmi Veronica},
      title = {Ageing and Resultant Changing Gender Roles of Farmers’ Involvement in Cocoa Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria},
      journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {39-44},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20200903.11},
      abstract = {Ageing is inevitable and it will undoubtedly affect farmers’ involvement in agricultural activities. The study examined the changing patterns of involvement of male and female in cocoa production activities as they age in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 90 males and 50 females cocoa farmers who were below 50 years and above 50 years for the research and were interviewed with structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the mean age for males was 54 years and 52 years for females. Involvement in organisation decision making was higher for male (48.8%) than for female (29.1%). The result of the four point Likert rating scale on changing pattern of involvement with respect to age showed that both male and female were always involved in all cocoa production activities when they were less than 50 years old. “Always involved” had the least of 55.8% for choosing of farm site and highest of 81.4% for marketing, hiring of labourers and sourcing for fund. However, females had low level of involvement for all the activities when they were above 50 years, while the males had high level of involvement for only two activities; marketing and sourcing for fund when above 50 years. The t-test result revealed a difference in the level of involvement of respondents when below 50 years and above 50 years with mean of 2.8 and 1.68 respectively, (t=4.68, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusively, age affected the involvement of farmers in most cocoa production activities. As a result, recruitment of younger farmers in cocoa production was recommended.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Ageing and Resultant Changing Gender Roles of Farmers’ Involvement in Cocoa Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria
    AU  - Ayodele Omowunmi Veronica
    Y1  - 2020/05/28
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11
    T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    SP  - 39
    EP  - 44
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5648
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20200903.11
    AB  - Ageing is inevitable and it will undoubtedly affect farmers’ involvement in agricultural activities. The study examined the changing patterns of involvement of male and female in cocoa production activities as they age in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 90 males and 50 females cocoa farmers who were below 50 years and above 50 years for the research and were interviewed with structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the mean age for males was 54 years and 52 years for females. Involvement in organisation decision making was higher for male (48.8%) than for female (29.1%). The result of the four point Likert rating scale on changing pattern of involvement with respect to age showed that both male and female were always involved in all cocoa production activities when they were less than 50 years old. “Always involved” had the least of 55.8% for choosing of farm site and highest of 81.4% for marketing, hiring of labourers and sourcing for fund. However, females had low level of involvement for all the activities when they were above 50 years, while the males had high level of involvement for only two activities; marketing and sourcing for fund when above 50 years. The t-test result revealed a difference in the level of involvement of respondents when below 50 years and above 50 years with mean of 2.8 and 1.68 respectively, (t=4.68, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusively, age affected the involvement of farmers in most cocoa production activities. As a result, recruitment of younger farmers in cocoa production was recommended.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

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