IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science (IJAES )

E- ISSN 2489-0081
P- ISSN 2695-1894
VOL. 11 NO. 3 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijaes.vol.11.no3.2025.pg173.182

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Women Participation in Farming Activities and Empowerment Among Rural Women in Benue and Niger States of Nigeria

Aisha Muhammad Ndas, Dr Muhammad Ndas, Mustapha Muhammad

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Abstract

This paper seeks to examine socio-economic benefits of participation in Farming practice among rural women in Benue and Niger States of Nigeria. Women empowerment through participation in farming activities which is the focus of this paper is a mechanism through which Nigerian rural women are able to increase self-reliance in order to promote their well-being. A sample of 282 women involved in farming approach from the study area were selected from a study population of 600, through sample random from six local Government Areas of Benue and Niger States of Nigeria and a schedule was designed and administered among the respondents. The results revealed that majority of women who constituted as respondents of this study have benefitted considerably as most of them have been earning certain income thereby supplementing their family income. Most of the respondents have either primary education or no formal education which directly informed their participation in the approach. The study revealed that there is high rate of involvement of rural women in farming activities in the study area, hence most of the respondents emphasized positive changes in their socio-economic well-being. The paper therefore concludes that farming approach is an instrument for rural women empowerment and poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

keywords:

Empowerment, Participation, Socio-economic.

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