ASSESSMENT OF GENDER PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEMS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

General participation in public and private extension systems in Rivers state was assessed based on the following objectives (1) determine the socio-economic characteristic of respondent in the study area (2) assess the level of gender participation in public and private agricultural extension systems and; (3) determine gender perception on the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in public and private organization. Questionnaires, interviews, focused Group discussion and relevant literatures were the instrument used for data collection. One Public Organization, Rivers State Agricultural Development Programmers (RISADEP) and two Private Organization SPDC and NAOC in Rivers State, operating agricultural extension programmers were purposively selected. Two sets of validated questionnaires were administered. Qualitative and quantitative statistical tools were employed for data analyses. One hundred and forty-four respondents (72 males and 72 females) in public extension and 152 respondents (70 males and 82 females) in private extension were randomly selected for the study. Results showed that 55.7% males and 70.7% females in private extension systems attained secondary education, while 41.9% males and 45.9% females did not attend any form of formal education in public extension systems. Furthermore, 70% males and 65.9% females in private sectors claimed husband and wife controlled the resources of their house, while 59.7% male and 76.4% females claimed that their husband alone controlled the resources of their house in public extension. The total or grand mean score for males participation was 2.61 and females 2.50 indicating high level of grand participation in private extension, while grand mean scores for males and females participation. The overall level of gender in private extension result show grand mean score for males 2.61 and females 2.50 which were higher than the public extension services. While grand mean scores for males was 1.54 and females 1.51 which indicate low level of gender participation how however about 58 .6% male and 54%females respondent rated helped you to improve you farming as very high perception and it also ranked first position in private extension, while 52% males and 42% female and agreed that public extension organization considered woman farmers and it was ranked first position. Effective service proved by private organization grand mean score for male was 1.65 and females 1.51 while ineffective service for public organization grand mean score for males was 0.85 and females 0.76 finally, 100% gender of preference cultivation practice of vegetable crops and 88.9% of females preferred harvesting techniques in public extension. It was recommended that regular monitoring and evaluation of extension programmes on gender disaggregation basis be supported and evaluation of extension programmes on gender disaggregation basis be supported and practiced by every agricultural extension system.