Abstract:
The economic role of women in agriculture is surrounded by numerous myths and
misunderstandings. Significant changes have occurred in the agricultural sector over
the past 25 years, both in the role played by women and in the understanding of this
role, but the continued Sack of appropriate policy and programme strategies means
that women’s contribution to agriculture remains invisible. In order to make the contribution
visible, distinction between men’s and women’s role needs to be examined
and clarified; especially, in terms of labour productivity. Towards this end, a study
was conducted with 120 farm households in Kaduna State of northern Nigeria to examine
the gender differentials in labour contribution and productivity in the farm sector.
Women in the southern part of Kaduna State were observed to exhibit greater labour
productivity than men; while in the northern part where men contributed labour
more extensively for farm works, male labour was more productive.
