Constraints Encountered by Agricultural Enterprises Owned by Women Farmers in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria

This study assessed constraints encountered by Agricultural enterprises owned by Women Farmers in Owerri Agricultural zone of Imo state, South-East Nigeria. A pre-tested questionnaire (with open ended questions) in line with the specific objectives was used to obtain data from the respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation and 3-point scale technique. Results from the analysis revealed that majority of the women farmers ( respondents) are within the age bracket of 21-30 years, married, fairly experienced in farm enterprise business, engaged mostly in cassava farming production/farming with the percentage score of 98.33% and 96.6% respectively; Also, further results from this analysis revealed that high costs of production, low access to credit supply, and pest and diseases infections were found to be the most notable constraints faced by these women farmers in the study area. The study therefore concluded that these women farmers are actively energetic and can do more productive work if proper enabling environment is granted to them. It is recommended that the Federal Government should revisit the plights of these agricultural enterprise owners with a view of alleviating the challenges faced in their business operations and also these women farmers should be encouraged to join cooperative society in the regions so as to improve their farm productivity and efficiency.