Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Role of Women in Improving Household Food Security in Owerri North Area of Imo State, Nigeria
by Nnadi, F.N., Chikaire, J., Nnadi, C.D., Okafor, O.E. Echetama, J.A. and Utazi, C.O.,

Abstract:
Women make essential contributions to economic developments, household income, food security and otherwise in the world of work. They remain the invisible workforce in global production chains, where they dominate as house-workers and temporary labour. This research work entitled analysis of role of women in improving household food security sought to x-ray the activities performed by women in ensuring food security at the household level. The crucial role of women as both agricultural workers and shock absorber often ignored will be revealed. Both students and researchers in the gender field would find this work helpful as a reference material. Eight communities were purposively selected due to large number of women whose major occupation is farming and who have been in the business for a long time. From these eight communities, 15 respondents were selected from each community for interview making a total of 120 women farmers. Out this number, 115 respondents returned their questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using percentages, and mean presented in tabular form. Majority (43.5%) is within the age of 41-50 years, have secondary education and hold 0.25-1 hectares of land. They grow crops and keep animals and spend over 9 hours working daily for the household. These women plant, weed, harvest, apply fertilizer, process, store, and market food produce. They also thresh, winnow, clean and gather seeds. The factors which constrain household food security include lack of access to land, inputs, credit, education, income and others. It was recommended that proper legislation be put in place to ensure women's access to productive resources and increase employment opportunities for women

Keywords: women, household, food security, farming, land tenure, Nigeria.

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