ASSESSMENT OF CHALLENGES FACED BYWOMEN FARMERS' PARTICIPATION IN RICE PRODUCTION IN KANO STATE (A CASE STUDY OF KURA LGA)

This study titled “Assessment of Challenges Faced by Women Farmers' Participation in Rice Production in Kano State (A Case Study of Kura LGA)” assessed the socio-economic characteristics of rice marketers, the extent of women’s participation in rice production, and the constraints they face in the study area. The research was conducted in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, one of the leading rice-producing areas in Nigeria. The study area is supported by irrigation facilities such as the Kadawa irrigation project, which enables year-round farming. A multistage sampling technique was employed. Purposive sampling was used to select three wards (Danhassan, Kura, and Gundutse), while simple random sampling was applied to select 20 respondents from each ward, giving a total of 60 respondents. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means, and percentages were used to analyze the data. The results showed that respondents were predominantly within the active age group of 31–40 years, with an average household size of 8 persons. All respondents were male marketers, married, and with relatively low formal education—55% having only Quranic education. Women’s participation in rice production was limited in land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, and harvesting due to cultural, religious, and resource-based constraints. However, women played a significant role in post-harvest activities, with 100% engaged in threshing/winnowing and parboiling, and over 91% in milling and marketing. Extension services were accessible to most respondents, with over 90% affirming that technology adoption improved both output and income. The major challenges identified included lack of access to land (100%), high cost of inputs (100%), cultural and religious restrictions (100%), lack of access to credit facilities (95%), inadequate extension services (91.7%), pest and disease infestation (91.7%), poor storage facilities (91.7%), and limited market access (83.3%). The study concludes that while men dominate rice marketing, women remain central to post-harvest operations but are hindered from participating fully in production due to socio-cultural and economic barriers. It recommends policies that enhance women’s access to land, loans, and modern technologies, as well as cooperative membership and infrastructural development, to improve their contributions to rice production, household income, and food security.