Effect of North East Food Security and Livelihood Emergency Support Project (NEFSLESP) on Women Farmers' Output in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the effect of North East Food Security and Livelihood Emergency Support Project on Women Farmers' Livelihoods in Fika LGA of Yobe State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examines socio-economic characteristics of women farmers and the effect of farm inputs on women farmers' output in Fika LGA of Yobe State. Data for this study were obtained through the use of structured questionnaire. The questionnaire were administered to 121 women farmers, all were duly filled and returned. The reason behind 100% return rate of the questionnaire is that the number of women beneficiaries of NEFSLESP is not large enough. This allows researchers with the help of research assistants to consult everyone of them. The study considered all population (121) of women beneficiaries in the project due to the fact that the population is not large enough to adopt any sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results of the study shows that mean age of the participants was 36 years, majority (72.7%) were married and the mean household size was 6.0 persons. The participants spent an average of about 9.0 years in formal schooling and only 9.1% had tertiary education. About 50% acquired agricultural land through freehold and 95% of them engaged in livestock production. The average farm size of the participants was 0.6 hectare and the mean farming experience was 7.0 years. The average number of dependents per household were 5.3 persons and majority (65.3%) of the participants had extension visits. The study also revealed that the mean farm income for the participants was ₦175,137.7686 and most participants had more than one source of income. The paired samples t-tests showed that the project had significant effect on output. The study recommends that NFDP should encourage women to participate in crop production. Yobe State in particular and Federal Government of Nigeria should formulate and implement a policy on land tenure system that will give women adequate access to farmlands.