ENHANCING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE IN NASARAWA STATE: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

Age-long trado-cultural, religious, political as well as legal practices have held down and limited the ideas, creativities and innovativeness (contributions) of women to agricultural development in Nigeria and Nasarawa state in particular. In other words, despite the numerous and noble contribution of women to agricultural development (such as burning of felled trees, cultivation of farms, planting and harvesting of crops including preparation of food et cetera, existing beliefs, cultural practices, laws, policies and programmes) do not favour and or enhance their participation in agriculture in the state. Thus, the desire for mass/social mobilization of all stakeholders (women, men, political and religious leaders, organizations as well as all others concerned) to create an enabling environment for effective and sustainable participation of women in agricultural activities motivated this research. The study relied on secondaiy sources for data, while Interest-Group theory was used as a guide. Among others, the study found out that ownership of and access to land in Nasarawa state was skewed against women on the excuse that they (female children) will acquire such from their husbands when they are married. Moreover, the study discovered that poverty among women made most of them unable to procure parcels of land upon which to farm and illiteracy did not allow those affected to explore appropriate channels for overcoming the challenges. Accordingly, it suggested that the following steps be taken to release the creative energies of women for aggressive and rapid development of agriculture in Nasarawa State and Nigeria in general through review of various laws, policies and cultural practices in the state to enable women access inputs needed for agricultural activities, while increased educational opportunities for girl-children be made so that they can explore useful opportunities for engagement in agriculture.