Gender Analysis of Rice Production Efficiency in Osun State: Implication for the Transformation Agenda

This study examined the gender characteristics in the efficiency of rice production in Osun state. Primary data were elicited from 100 rice farmers with the aid of structured pre-tested questionnaire and analysed using frequency counts, budgetary analysis and stochastic frontier production function. Findings showed that the majority (62%) of the farmer were males, below 50 years of age (52%) with only 6 years of formal education (58%) having farming as their primary occupation (65%) and cultivating up to 5 hectares of land (66%), while, only 42% of the female farmers were below 50 years of age. Most (71%) respondents had up to 6 years of formal education, cultivated up to 5 hectares (61%) of land, few (18%) chose farming as primary occupation. The budgetary analysis revealed that N2.18 profit accrued to every N1 invested in rice production. Hiring an additional female labour during planting improved total output by 7.1kg, while an extra male labour hired during land clearing, fertilizer application and harvest reduced output by 46.4kg, 35.5kg and 11.2kg respectively. A naira increase in the cost of fertilizer increases total output by 2.7kg. The study concluded that male farmers’ were more efficient than the female farmers. Farmers’ efficiency can be enhanced through mechanisation and fertilizer input supply; while provision of postharvest equipment will help women diversify into value addition.