TO GET THE COMPLETE JOURNAL/THESIS FOR TOPIC BELOW,
CALL: 08168759420, 08068231953
WHATSAPP: 08137701720
ASSESSING WOMEN ARABLE CROP FARMERS PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENTOF RURAL COMMUNITIES OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This study assessed rural women arable crop farmers’ involvement in the development of rural communities of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, it was designed to identify typesof arable crops cultivated by rural women, examine the types of community development projects executed by the women anddetermine the level of participation of the women in community development activities. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit datafrom four hundred and seventy-five (475) respondents from the three Senatorial zones of the State namely, Rivers West, Rivers South and Rivers East zones. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean score, four point Likert-type scale rating scale and the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that cassava was the dominant arable crop cultivated by the rural women in arable crop production from the three senatorial zones. Some of the community development projects executed by the rural women arable crop farmers included grading/construction of feeder roads (31.3%), market (21.8%) and water borehole (17.8%), among others of which grading/construction of feeder roads ranked first.The women in the study area participated in community development activities such as in selection of project to be constructed ( x = 3.33),Selection of project site( x = 3.32), site preparation for construction of project ( x = 3.01) amongst others. The study recommends that government should keep up with their responsibilities of providing basic social amenities for the citizenry especially for those residing in the rural areas of the state. Women should be encouraged and supported by government, community members, politicians, nongovernmental, etc., financially and otherwise whenever they execute community development projects. Keywords:Rural women, Arable crop farmers, Involvement, Development, Rural Communities