Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 16 ISSUE 1
Written by Beatrice N ONUNKA, Christopher Ogbonna EMEROLE, Chima Innocent EZEH

This study on gender factors in the production of African eggplant (Solanum gilo) was conducted in Abia State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers (60 male and 60 female African eggplant farmers) on who structured questionnaire was administered in two of the three agricultural zones of the State. Data were presented and discussed using both descriptive and inferential statistical approaches in percentages, frequencies, tables and t-test analyses. The result showed that relatively more males (58.3%) than females (50%) had contact with and reported to extension agents by GSM calls/phone calls, more males (86.67%) than females (59%) had larger farmland, and received more production instructions on practices in form of advice from the extension agents. The study further revealed that extension agents procured and gave more production inputs (credit/grant, agrochemical and others) to male farmers than to the female farmers. Thus the mean output (10739.03tons/ha) of male African eggplant farmers appeared greater than that of the females (8300tons/ha) but there was no significant difference in output by the sexes. Availability of improved electricity supply and extension education was needful in the communities. It was recommended that extension agent’s capacity building and land reform policies should be sensitive on gender lines in the study area.

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