Appraisal of Women Farmers' Participation in Cassava Production Activities in IWO Agricultural Development Programme Zone of Osun, State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to appraise women farmers’ participation in cassava production activities in Iwo Agricultural Development Programme Zone of Osun State. The study described women farmer’s socioeconomic characteristics, ascertained participation in cassava production activities and also constraints faced in participating in such activities. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) cassava women farmers randomly selected constituted the sample size while structured interviewed scheduled was used for data collection and analysis done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Index of 3.40 obtained is an indication that the women always participated in cassava production in the area. The dominant activities of the women were packing ( =4.15), harvesting ( =3.92), loading in vehicle ( =3.77), stem purchase ( =3.76) and stem cutting ( =3.64). The major constraints to participation in cassava production activities are access to land ( =3.80), access to agrochemicals ( =3.60), labour (=3.40) inadequate storage facilities (=3.34), inadequate capital ( =3.33) among others. The findings also revealed that the major constraints to participation in cassava production activities are access to land, access to agrochemicals, inadequate infrastructural facilities, inadequate storage facilities, inadequate capital among others. It was recommended that women farmers should join or form cooperatives societies in order to get support from the government to boost cassava production in the area. Also, governments should subsidize the price of farm inputs in order to make them accessible and affordable to women farmers. In the same vein, better access to farmlands should also be emphasized.