Assessment of Strategies for Rural Women Participation in Commercial Palm Kernel Oil Production for Wealth Creation in Taraba State, Nigeria (Published)
This study was an assessment of strategies for rural women participation in commercial palm kernel oil production for wealth creation in Taraba State, Nigeria. Four specific objectives and research questions guided the study. The study adopted the survey research design. The instrument for data collection was a 42-item structured questionnaire which was used to generate data from a sample size of 275 respondents comprising of 265 rural women who are involved in small-scale traditional method of palm kernel oil extraction from Takum, Ussa, Bali and Kurmi Local Government Areas of Taraba State and 10 Agricultural Extension Agents who are serving in the aforementioned Local Government Areas. The instrument was administered on the respondents in their localities by the researchers and eight (8) research assistants. 210 copies of the instrument were successfully filled and returned. Findings of the study revealed that provision of processing facilities and adequate storage facilities are some of the strategies for enhanced commercial processing of palm kernel oil. On the basis of the above findings, it was recommended that extension agents should expose rural women to the strategies that could enhance commercial processing of palm kernel oil.
Keywords: Rural Women, Wealth Creation, palm kernel oil, processing strategies
Strategies for Sustainable Rural Livelihood in Etche Local Government Area (Published)
The study examined strategies for empowering rural women for sustainable livelihood in Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State. the objectives include to determine factors constraining women empowerment and to identify strategies for women empowerment in the study area. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 300 women (respondents). Data were collected using structured questionnaire designed in sections, with each section eliciting responses in respect of the research questions. A test-retest method was used to ascertain the reliability of instrument with r-value of 0.85. data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A minimum mean of 2.50 was accepted as the standard. The findings showed that majority (43%) of respondents were between the age range of 40-49 years, majority (40%) had basic education while crop family processing was the primary occupation of majority of the respondents. The study also showed that women empowerment were constrained by gender discrimination; poverty; traditional belief, among others as equal opportunities for access to resources and elimination of discrimination to work and wages were some of the identified strategies for women empowerment. The study recommended that government at all levels should formulate policies that would encourage equal distribution of power right across gender.
Keywords: Empowerment, Livelihood, Rural Women, Sustainability
Perspectives Of Microcredit: A Catalyst for Women’s Empowerment in Rural Bangladesh (Published)
Women’s empowerment has become a global affair in the contemporary discourse for the developing countries. This paper examined the impact of microcredit schemes on women’s empowerment in rural Bangladesh. The data was collected from 324 rural women borrowers on a field study from four villages in the district of Tangail, Bangladesh through the administration of questionnaires. This research was conducted during the period of July to December 2016. Data was also collected from women non-borrowers to compare the impact between borrowers and control-group. Data has been analyzed by SPSS software and also Logistic Regression is used to estimate the impact of empowerment of women after participating in microcredit program. A significant outcome of this research showed that microcredit has a positive impact on women’s empowerment and promotes microcredit borrowers women to participate in the household decision-making process through acquiring the self-esteem, business skills and confidence level.
Keywords: Bangladesh, Impact, Microcredit, Rural Women, Women’s Empowerment
Assessments of Income Generating Activities of Rural Women in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was conducted to assess the income generating activities of rural women in Hawul local government area Borno state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the socio-economic characteristics, assessed the level of participation in income generating activities of that the respondents in the study area. Primary data was used for the study, the data was obtained through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 210 respondents and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics like multiple regression. The result revealed that respondents were experienced 82%, had household sizes of 5 and 10 persons. Fishing in wet season, crop production in wet season and cotton weaving in dry season were major income generating activities. Marital status (5.388), family size (.005) and education (1.433) had significant relationship with income generating activities among respondents. The study recommended that Nigeria government should establish as well as place recognition on technical schools to enhance women’s skills in their occupation. This is evident in higher percentage of the women’s involvement in vocational jobs. Also, government policy makers should enact laws that will facilitate women’s access to loan and land ownership.
Keywords: Assessment, Income Generating Activities, Rural Women