EFFICACY OF INTERNATIONAL FUNDS FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT –(VCDPs) ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ON RICE VALUE ADDITION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

The research was aimed at examining the efficacy of international funds for agricultural development -value chain development programme on women empowerment on Rice Value Addition in North Central Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for the study. First stage was purposively selection of Benue and Niger States in North central. At the second stage, women (producers, processors and marketers of rice) beneficiaries in the programme was purposively selected from three (2) LGAs from each of the state making a total of 4 LGAs, The third and fourth stage involved a purposive selection of LGAs and communities in each State respectively. In all, a total of 243 respondents were selected from the LGA as the sample size for the study. The results showed that the mean age of the respondents in the study area was 49 years in Benue and 40 years in Niger state while the average family size was 8 and 13 person in Benue and Niger states respectively, and 64% and 68% were married in Benue and Niger states respectively, with almost 51.3% in Quranic education in Niger and also 21.7% with primary education in Benue state. 72.2% and 86.7% of participating women has access to extension agents in both Niger and Benue states respectively. The result in Table 4 revealed that in Benue State, the majority of the women (89.8%) were able to employ more labourers to work for them in their various enterprises also majority of the women (78.3%) reported they were now able to pay their children’s school fees in Niger state. The study recommends that women should be given more opportunities they needed; it will lead to full development of their roles.