Explaining Gender Differentials in Agricultural Production in Nigeria
Nigeria presents a unique case study on differences in agricultural productivity between men and women. This study, which captures a comprehensive picture of agriculture across the nation, shows that female farmers produce 16 percent less per hecta...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/590821468100147475/Explaining-gender-differentials-in-agricultural-production-in-Nigeria http://hdl.handle.net/10986/25460 |
| Summary: | Nigeria presents a unique case study on
differences in agricultural productivity between men and
women. This study, which captures a comprehensive picture of
agriculture across the nation, shows that female farmers
produce 16 percent less per hectare than their male
counterparts, when plot size, farmer characteristics, and
inputs are taken into account. This gender gap is driven by
the North East and Central zones located in the Northern
region of the country, where female farmers are 28 percent
less productive than male farmers. In this region, women,
particularly those who are older, farm on smaller plots and
have lower levels of key inputs, notably fertilizer and
labor, which is a well-documented pattern in many African
contexts. The Southern region, however, does not fit this
established pattern. When controlling for key
characteristics and factors of production, in the South no
gender gap in productivity is observed, though female
farmers will benefit from additional herbicide and female
labor. The notably different patterns in these two regions
of the same country provide ample space for further study.
Thus, in order to decrease the country-wide gender gap in
production, the authors recommend extending access to
fertilizer, hired labor, and cash crops to women -
particularly those in the North. |
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