Beyond visibility: gendered yield disparities in cowpea and soybean production in Nigeria

Introduction Gender inequalities in agriculture may persist despite increasing recognition of women’s participation. However, evidence on the magnitude and observable sources of gender-associated yield gaps in Nigeria’s cowpea and soybean production systems remains limited. This study examines gender differences in resource access and agricultural decision-making, and estimates yield differentials between male- and female-headed farms. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and December 2022 across six major legume-producing states in Nigeria, involving 1,010 respondents. Farmer observations that met the required outcome and covariate criteria were used in the econometric analyses. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition were employed to estimate conditional gender-associated yield differences and assess the contribution of observed endowments. Results PSM revealed a conditional male yield advantage of 429.34 kg/ha (SE = 253.01; t = 1.70; p < 0.10). Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition estimates mean yields of 730.44 kg/ha for female-headed farms and 1,070.80 kg/ha for male-headed farms, yielding a significant female–male differential of −340.37 kg/ha ( p < 0.05). The endowment component (−438.91 kg/ha; p < 0.01), whereas the coefficient and interaction components were not statistically significant. Discussion The findings suggest that differences in observed productive endowments contribute significantly to gender-associated yield disparities. However, they do not establish causal relationships between yield differences and inequalities in land rights, seed access, credit, extension services, or decision-making authority. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing women’s agricultural participation and visibility from their access to productive resources and effective control over agricultural decisions.