Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture

Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 2/05


A gender analysis of farm households labour use and its impacts on household income in southwestern Nigeria

M.A.Y. Rahji and A.O. Falusi
University of Ibadan, Nigeria


Abstract

The study examined farm household labour use, labour productivity and its effects on household income in southwestern Nigeria. Evidence from the study indicated that females work longer hours in all activity sectors and have lesser leisure time. Results show that the marginal productivities for the females are higher than for the males. The marginal income contribution for the females is also significantly higher than for the males. The use of gender analysis thus indicated that female labour and income contributions to the household economy are significant. The policies recommended on gender basis include input incentives, extension delivery system, credit delivery and if possible input-on-credit delivery system. Women are the main agricultural workers but are rarely reached by the “gender blind” rural policies hence the need for gender specific measures.

Keywords: gender analysis, household labour use, marginal productivity, contribution to income, southwestern Nigeria

Vol. 44 (2005), No. 2: 155-166