The institutional factors that influence women's agricultural productivity : the case of Igbo women of South-Eastern Nigeria

• Main Author: Nnazor, Agatha Ifeyinwa
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/1189

This thesis examines the role of women in agricultural development and identifies the institutional factors (access to land; credit; machines, improved seedlings and fertilizer; extension services; cooperative facilities) that constitute a hindrance to their agricultural productivity. From an interview survey conducted with fifty Igbo women from two rural Igbo communities - Umunnachi and Leru, the researcher derives data on the roles of Igbo women and the institutional factors that influence their agricultural productivity. The data reveal that Igbo women play extensive roles both as reproducers of human agents (bearers and rearers of children, care of the aged, the handicap and maintainers of labour force) and producers of food. In spite of the numerous roles of Igbo women, they have limited access to agricultural facilities. In line with the socialist feminist view, the thesis locates women's limited access to agricultural facilities in the patriarchal and class structures of the society which not only favour men as a gender but also as a class. The thesis argues that women's limited access to agricultural facilities partly explains their low agricultural productivity and the current food shortages facing the country, Nigeria.