Multidimensional Wellbeing Analysis of Women Analysis of Women Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Women farmers remain a vital segment of the rural population and create critical links between the present generation of farmers and the future. The rationale for more studies on the issues of their wellbeing is anchored on the sustained development of approaches that give a better understanding of the phenomenon. This study examined the multidimensional wellbeing of women farmers in Akwa Ibom State using a functioning approach. The study specifically assessed the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and analysed the wellbeing of the farmers using six functioning dimensions including information access, employment, education, nutrition and health, autonomy, housing, and sanitation. Primary data were obtained from 300 respondents selected from the agricultural zones in the state through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and fuzzy set analysis. The mean age of women farmers in the zones was 46 years and their mean household size was six. Majority (76%) of the respondents from Eket agricultural zone fell within 0.401-0.50 wellbeing index spread across four of the six dimensions considered, 67% of the respondents in Uyo agricultural zone fell within 0.301-0.40 wellbeing index while 56% of the respondents from Abak agricultural zone fell within 0.20 – 0.30 wellbeing index across the dimensions. Although the wellbeing status of women farmers from Eket agricultural zone was relatively better, the results showed that the wellbeing of the women farmers across the agricultural zones was generally low. Interventions in employment, education, and information access are needed for the women farmers, especially, in Abak agricultural zone.