Analysis of Women Entrepreneur Involvement in Livestock Farming in North West Nigeria

This study investigates the level of women participation in livestock production in Northwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design is adopted for the study. The research collected primary data across the study states using a structured questionnaire and interview. The target population for the study comprises women farmers in livestock production in Northwest Nigeria. However, three out of the seven states in the region are further selected for the study because of the homogeneity characteristics among the states i.e. Katsina, Zamfara and Jigawa states. The sample size for the three states is computed using sample size technique for unknown population size developed by Charan and Biswas (2013). This is followed by stratified sampling technique that was used to select 326 women farmers across the study states. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analyses which include Pearson correlation and logistics regression. Findings of the study indicate that women participation in income generating activities is low due to limited access of the women to productive resources like education, health and training. The women farmers were denied the right to own land, to own livestock or having access to improved pasture and the control over livestock resources. It is also highlighted in the study that low social-cultural background of the women farmers has strong tendency to hinder contributions to participation to livestock production activities. Therefore, the study recommends among others that government should provide; women with productive resources, women farmers access to the right to own land, livestock or having access to improved pasture and the control over livestock resources in order to improve contribution of women farmers to household food security and national security, and socio-cultural activities of the women should be improved.