Gender Differentials among Subsistence Rice Farmers and Willingness to undertake Agribusiness in Africa: Evidence and Issues from Nigeria

Abstract

Gender disparities in resource access, utilization and competitiveness in agricultural production have been critical challenges to the achievement of food security and inclusive growth in Africa. Thus, this article determined rice farmers’ productivities and competitiveness, their willingness to undertake and factors influencing their participation in agribusiness across gender, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study employed a case study of rice farmers in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, to reach its conclusion. The study concluded that in spite of the willingness to invest in agribusiness, gender imbalance in socioeconomic status, resource use and incomes were still recurring issues limiting productivity, competiveness in rice production and by extension, food security. To feed Africa, there is the need to close the gender gap in socio-economic status, resource access, productivity and competitiveness, align national with regional agenda and the global sustainable development goals on hunger and equity, with the view to pooling resources towards tackling the food insecurity on an equitable and sustainable basis. It has also become imperative to support effective policy deployment, implement proven innovative and sustainable agri-business models and embark on targeted gender support within country and regional settings.