ANALYSIS OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN MANGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined women participation in livestock Production in Mangu local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select 90 women livestock farmers. Descriptive statistics and Participation Index were used to analyze the data. The grand participation index (2.0) implies that women rarely participated in livestock production. Women always participated in the watering (2.97) feeding of animals (2.88) and cleaning of pen (2.72). Poultry, Swine and Goat were the major types of Livestock kept by Women. The result also revealed that there was positive and significant relationship between women involvement in livestock production and extension contact and age. Extension contact was significant (p<0.01) and positive which means that the more the women have access to extension contact the more tendency for them to participate in livestock production. The major constraints faced by women in livestock production were high cost of feed and medication, inadequate capital, pest and diseases. The study recommends that the women should be linked with micro finance banks so as to have access to capital which can be used to boost their level of participation in livestock production. Also various capacity building activities in-terms of training need of women in livestock production should be identified and periodically provided. Also subsidy should place on vaccine and drugs so as to reduce the high cost of medication this will encourage women participate in livestock production