ANALYSIS OF GENDER PARTICIPATION IN TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum) PRODUCTION IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONE I OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The study analysed gender participation in tomato production in the Agricultural Zone 1 of Niger State, Nigeria. A mutip-state sampling procedure was employed to draw 120 male and female respondents. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Both descriptive and interferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected from the field. Result of the analysis showed that the mean age of male respondents was 41 years while of the female was 39 years. Male respondents had mean average of 19 years farming experience and that of female respondents was 18.5 years. The mean farm size of male was 1.9 hectares while that of female was 1.7 hectares. Majority (98.3%) of male respondents and 98.3% of female were involved in cooperative activities. All the male and female respondents (100%) did not have access to the extension agents. majority (71%) of male and Majority (81.7%) of female have no access to credit. Out of twelve (12) activities studied, six (6) activities were dominantly performed by male (Land clearing, land preparation, transplanting, irrigation, spraying of herbicides and pesticides) while sowing, fertilizer application, harvesting, marketing and staking were dominated by the female. Men and women participated at the same level in weeding activities (100%). Similarly, the mean annual income of the male tomato farmers was N204,667 and that of female farmers was N184,000 respectively. The major constraints identified in the study area were inadequate water for irrigation, poor extension services, poor storage facilities, and lack of credit facilities. The results of the t-test shows that there was significant difference in the income earned per hectare by male and female tomato farmers in the study area. It was recommended that the Niger State Government as well as Non-governmental organizations (NGOS), should provide water infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs, canals and irrigation equipment and storage facilities to boast vegetable production to ensure all year-round availability of tomato