Gender assessment of arable crop farmers in soil management practices in Osun State, Nigeria

The study assessed the roles of arable crop farmers in soil management practices on gender basis. Specifically, it identified the common soil management practices used among arable crop farmers and assessed the level of involvement of men and women arable crop farmers in soil management practices. A multi- stage sampling procedure was used for sample selection. Data collected were described using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentages, appropiate charts and analysed using correlation and t-test. The findings revealed that the mean age of the male farmers was 46.3±9.51 years while that of the female respondents was 38.7±7.91 years. Application of inorganic fertilizer was the dominant soil management practice used by both male and female farmers with male involving more in all the soil management practices. Results of correlation analysis showed that there were positive and significant relationship between men and women arable crop farmers' level of involvement in soil management practices and age (r=0.997), years of formal education (r=0.640), number of children assisting in farming (r=0.694), sources of credits (r=0.921) at P≥0.05 level of significance. Also, income per year (r=-0.661), was negative but significant at 0.05 level of significant. Also, t-test results showed that significant differences exist between male and female arable crop farmers in soil management practices in the study area at P≥0.01. The study therefore, concludes that male were more involved in all the soil management practices identified in the study area. It was therefore recommended that gender policies that could bridge the gaps between male and female arable crop farmers in soil management practices should be put in place by the government with a view to increasing soil fertility, hence increased food production in Osun State.