Abstract

The study assessed the gender analysis of factors associated with soil and water conservation technology usage among vegetable farmers in Ekiti and Oyo States, Nigeria. It specifically, described the socioeconomic characteristics of vegetable farmers and examined the gender-specific factors associated with soil and water conservation technology utilisation in vegetable production. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were elicited from the respondents using an interview schedule and focus group discussion guide. The study used inferential and descriptive statistics to analyse the data from the survey. The findings showed that the mean age for male was 35 years and female vegetable farmers 41 years. While the mean years of vegetable farming experience for male was 16 years and female vegetable farmers was 19 years. Varimax factor rotation pattern was used to isolate six factors associated with soil and water conservation technology usage for male vegetable farmers, which were information-source factor (14.4%), family factor (14.0%), resources factor (11.7%), economic factor (10.5%), soil-fertility factor (8.3%), and institutional factor (8.0%). Also,five factors were isolated for the female vegetable which were include; personal-experience factor (21.6%), information source factor (20.0%), land acquisition factor (10.7%), resources factor (10.0%), and group membership factor (7.7%). Information, resources, economic, personal experience, and land acquisition were the gender-specific factors influencing soil water conservation (SWC) technology usage. It was recommended that the factors identified should be noted as springboard for technology development and dissemination in Nigeria, this will help in the removal of the existing gender gaps among the farmers, especially in the rural areas and ensure sustainable agricultural practices and rural transformation.

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