Abstract

Despite women?s contributions to agriculture and rural development in Nigeria, there are constraints militating against their use of skills for effective participation in agricultural and income generating activities. This paper assessed use of agricultural and non-farm income generating skills among women farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data were collected from purposively selected 160 women farmers that were exposed to agricultural and income generating skills development across three Senatorial Zones of Kaduna State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, basically frequency, percentages and weighted means. Results reveal that 91.3% of women farmers were between the ages of 26-45 years; 95.0% had 1-7 years of experience; 98,8% were members of an association, while only 28.8% had extension contact. Common agricultural skills acquired were sheep and goat rearing (78.8%), local chicken production (75.0%) and post-harvest processing and marketing (52.5%). Other income generating skills were Jelly (vasellin) making (97.5%), soap/detergent (94.8%) and condiments/spices (51.3%). Weighted mean scores of women perceived satisfaction in the use of agricultural and income generating skills showed Jelly making (1st), Soap/detergent making (2nd), local chicken production (3rd), sheep/goat production (4th) and condiment/spices processing (5th) to be satisfactory. Ranked constraints of women in the use of skills revealed chemical spoilage (1st), pest/disease outbreak (2nd), high cost of materials (3rd), inadequate capital (4th) and poor product packaging (5th). Conclusion was that through their participation in income generating activities, women farmers in Kaduna State were actively contributing to their economic needs, those of their families and communities from farm and non-farm incomes. It was recommended that extension services and financial support be provided to women farmers.

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