Large-scale Agricultural Investments and Female Employment in Nigerian Communities

Abstract

This study examines how large-scale agricultural investments (LSAIs) affect employment outcomes of female households in Nigeria. It focuses on wage income and labour allocations to agricultural activities for households in communities with LSAIs compared with households in communities without LSAIs. It engages Wave 4 (2018/2019) of the Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) dataset using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique. The results show a positive relationship with the household income living in communities with LSAIs, but a negative relationship with the labour allocation to agricultural activities. Furthermore, the findings indicate that households in communities with LSAIs received higher wages and spend fewer hours in agricultural activities. Also, though female-head households spend more hours on agricultural activities than male-headed households, they earn less. Therefore, the study submits with some recommendations on reducing the possible adverse effects of LSAIs and optimising its positive impact, especially for females in rural communities where most of such investments occur.