Does Agroforestry Technology Adoption Affect Income Inequality among Arable Crop Farmers in Southwest, Nigeria? A Gender Perspective

Abstract

Variations in agroforestry technology adoption and level of income inequality across genders have not been given adequate attention in the literature. Hence, this study examined the effect of agroforestry technology adoption on income inequality among the gender of arable crop farmers in Southwest, Nigeria. A multistage selection process was employed to pick 450 arable crop farmers. The collected data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, probit regression model and Gini coefficient analysis. Findings from this study revealed that the adoption of agroforestry technology increased income inequality among male and female crop farmers. Also, the difference in the income inequality level between adopters and non-adopters of agroforestry technology among female farmers was more than what was obtained among male farmers. Income inequality among female crop farmers was more than that of male crop farmers, while more male farmers adopted agroforestry technology than female ones. Credit constraints, experience and education had the highest contributions to inequality among male farmers, while education and credit constraints had the highest contributions among their female counterparts. Therefore, policy measures targeted at promoting the acceptance of agroforestry technology, especially among female crop farmers, should be applied.