Analysis of Women Involvement in Oil Palm Value Chain in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analyzed the women involvement in oil palm value chain in Ondo State, Nigeria. It ascertained the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; determined the level of women involvement in oil palm value chain activities; examined the factors influencing women involvement in oil palm value chain; and determine the constraints to women participation in oil palm value chain activities. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The result revealed that most (91.7%) of the respondents had formal education, married (81.7%) with a mean age of 45.9 years. The result also showed that women had high level of involvement in oil palm production activities like hand picking of harvested fallout fruits ( = 2.58), gathering of bunches ( = 2.22) and nursery management ( =2.33); in processing activities like oil clarification ( =2.62), oil drying ( = 2.60), pressing ( = 2.25) and in marketing activities like sales ( = 2.67), quality assurance ( = 2.60). The result further revealed that membership of association (X2 = 10.890; p = 0.001) and income (X2 = 0.421; p = 0.000) of the respondents had a significant relationship with the level of involvement of women in oil palm value chain activities. The study concluded that women are more actively involved in the processing and marketing activities of palm oil. The study recommended that cooperatives societies by women actors should be strengthened with extension services to enhance their knowledge on effective processing and marketing strategies so that they can maximize their profit through quality products.