Abstract

In most parts of rural Nigeria, division of labor within the households is gender specific and according to age. Men and women perform different roles; have unequal decision-making power as well as differences in access to land and control over agricultural productive resources. As a result of these differences, their views, needs, priorities and constraints to improving their productive potentials differ. In view of this, the study investigated gender participation constraints in cassava production, processing and marketing in Anambra State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected randomly from 65 male and 65 female cassava farmers using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that 90.8%, 89.2%, 53.8% and 46.2% males took part in cassava production operations like insect and pest management, land preparation, weeding and planting of cassava whereas 64.6%, 69.2%,95.4% and 92.3% females carried out the same activities.

However, all males and females (100%) participated in harvesting operations. Results also showed that 44.6%-92.3 males participated in transportation of roots to house, peeling, washing, fermenting, grinding, squeezing, sieving, toasting, milling and packaging, while76.9-96.9% females participated in the same activities. All females (100%) engaged in sieving operations. Furthermore, respondents engaged in all marketing activities with females recording higher participation in sales of produce/products (100%), storage (93.8%), sorting (90.8%), grading (89.2%),bulking of the produce (89.2),advertisement/promotion(87.7), assembling of the produce (84.6) standardization of measurement (63.1%), among others while males participated more in transportation of produce to market (95.4%),loading and offloading (92.3%) and standardization of measurement(90.7%). All (100%) females took part in selling of cassava. Both gender faced similar constraints and employed similar strategies for improving participation in cassava enterprises. The study concluded that both males and females participated actively in cassava production while a greater percentage of females took part in processing and marketing. It is recommended that research and extension should target both male and female cassava farmers with appropriate technologies that will improved their participation in cassava value chain development to enhance their income, standard of living and provide employment