PERCEPTION AND CONSTRAINTS OF RURAL WOMEN S PARTICIPATION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN IKONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Transcription

1 PERCEPTION AND CONSTRAINTS OF RURAL WOMEN S PARTICIPATION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN IKONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA Onuekwusi, G. C* and Iton E. Department of Rural Sociology and Extension Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike *glogid1999@yahoo.com, onuekwusi.gideon@mouau.edu.ng ABSTRACT Participation of rural women in economic activities at all levels is crucial for the development of the country and for economic advancement of women in the development process and for participation to be effective there must be positive perception. The study assessed the type of rural development activities in the study area, the level of women participation in the rural development projects, the perception of women towards rural development projects in the area, and the constraints affecting women participation in rural Primary data used for this study were collected from 120 respondents through purposive random sampling with well structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, means, percentages and Likert Type Scale, the hypothesis was tested using correlation analysis. The results revealed that the age of the majority of the respondents ranges from 31 and 40 years representing 57% of the participants. About 85.8% of the respondents were members of cooperative while 74% of the respondents were members of town union cooperative society. Bore Hole Project (2.43), Electricity Project (2.43), Road Construction (2.10), Maternity Center Project (2.15), Transport (2.23), Improved Agricultural Technologies (2.25), and Civil centre (2.38) were some of the projects women actively participated. They perceived rural development projects as bringing economic and social development, creating employment, increases production and raise productivity, empowers rural people and raises the standard of living in the community in the area, Some of the constraints includes; Lack of commitment, Role conflict, Political interference in providing rural infrastructure and Fund mismanagement. Occupation and education were significant at 5% and related to level of participation in rural development project. Women s participation in rural development should be sustained, and their capacity built for better output. Keywords: Constraints, Participation, Perception, Rural Women, Rural Development Projects Introduction Rural development is a set of technical, social, cultural and institutional measures, implemented with aid for the inhabitants of rural areas, with the aim of improving their social economic conditions. This is in order to achieve harmony and balance both on the regional and national levels (Ekong, 2003) and also a multi-dimensional process that improving the people in rural areas. Essentially, therefore, rural development is aimed at enhancing the welfare and living standards of the rural dwellers through the mobilization of resources and greater rural participation. Participation of rural women in economic activities at all levels is crucial for the development of the country and for economic advancement of women in the development process such as economic independence which include the creation of employment, access resources and credit, the eradication of the persistent and increasing burden of poverty, malnutrition, poor health and illiteracy on women. Although such declaration have been able to increase the awareness and understanding of the problems facing women they have not yet resulted in significant development priorities for rural women (Unifem, 2000). Women participation in the development by playing a crucial role as producers and agents of change in rural transformation, and that the negative effect on rural development is brought about by their marginalization. No matter which rural government option is chosen, it seems that women in rural areas will always remain where they are, and ultimately will end up in a worse position. For this reason to see any changes coming to their way, they themselves need to stand up for it. (Hunger project, 2000). In most African countries, rural women are the food farmers and carry the burdens of life. Africa s 100 million rural women grow almost 80% of Africa s food, including food for subsistence and food for the markets. This amounts of food Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1092

2 production of 3 metric tons each year per women. Rural women do almost 80% of the work to provide the proper transport and storage of Africa s food including the task such as threshing, drying, peeling. They also do almost 60% of the work related to marketing Africa s food. Yet face greater specific barriers in accessing financial services and can receive less than 1% of the total credit to small farmers and 10% of the total credit to agriculture (Hunger project 2000). Women participation in economic progress recognized the critical contribution made by women to African societies and economic and the extreme subordination including discrimination, which they face (Akpabio, 2000). The attainment of equal rights by women in social, economic and political spheres must become a central feature of a development (Hunger project, 2000). The majority of women in rural communities believe that rural government offer them no real hope for change or empowerment in terms of community power relations. Their experience of those actions suggest that the more they are exposed, the more decision is reached, they are the one s who live with the implications (Ntomb Futhi Zondo, 1995). Rural women are typically allocated small pieces of land usually about 1000 to 5000 square meters, which are used to produce food crops such as vegetable, chickpeas and groundnuts for home consumption and to a very limited extent for sale. Women in rural development (Obasi, 2005) lay a critical role in agricultural production in developing countries particularly in low income countries in agriculture accounts for an average 32 percent of the growth in gross domestic product (GDP), and in which an average 70 percent of the countries poor live and work in rural areas, women make up a substantial majority of the agricultural workforce and produce most of the food that is consumed locally. The focus on rural women in this study is a concern it implies that these people have a certain consciousness about their positions as rural women, although there are no strategies developed to affect change on then (ASAP Africa, 2006). Following the Lagos Plan of Action for economic Development of Africa it is advocated that the needs, rights and concerns of all women be fully integrated into individual country s development planning to benefit all sections of the population (Hunger Project, 2000). This paper therefore investigated the perception and constraints that act as bottlenecks to active participation of rural women in rural development in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state. It is assumed that if these factors are not investigated and analyzed, they are likely to cause a continuous impediment on rural women s participation in ongoing developments, as well as on the viability of development efforts in the state and country. This helps to increase our understanding and commitment towards upliftment and empowerment of rural women, by eliminating plans, policies and projects that constrain their increased participation in rural developments thereby contributing their own quarter to Nigerian rural and agricultural transformation process. Specific objectives were to; identify the type of rural development activities in the study area; identify the level of women participation in the rural development projects; ascertain the perception of women towards rural development projects in their area; identify the constraints affecting women participation in rural It was hypothesized that no significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics and level of participation of respondents in rural Methodology The study was conducted in Ikono L.G.A of Akwa Ibom State. Ikono is one of the twenty four L.G.A of Akwa Ibom State. It occupies an extensive land mass and is bounded on North by Imo State, South by Abak and Uyo, on the East by Itu and Ikot Ekpene and West by Abia State. Altogether, there are 328 villages which constitutes four (4) clans and has a population not less that 600,000. The four (4) clans that make up Ikono L.G.A are as follows Nung Ukim, Mbiafun, Ediene and Ibiaku Ntok Okpo. The population of the study is made up of all the rural women between 20 years and above in the study area who is engaged in any rural The study adopted a combination of purposive, multi-stage and random sampling technique to elicit a sample of 120 respondents from the four (4) blocks of Nung Ukim, Mbiafun, Ediene and Ibiaku Ntok Okpo. From each of these blocks, six circles were purposively selected given a total of 24 circles; five (5) respondents each were randomly selected from the circles given the 120 respondents for the study. Two types of data collection method were used for the study the primary and secondary data. Primary data were obtained using articulated structured questionnaire and oral interviews while secondary data were obtained from text books, journals, internets, magazines and extension rural development books. The questionnaire and oral interview schedule formed the basis for the data analysis. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics formed the basis for data analysis. Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1093

3 Frequency, percentages, 3 Point Likert Type Scale, 4 Point Likert Type Scale and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis were used to analyze the objectives and hypothesis. The model is shown below; Y = F (x 1, x 2, x 3, x 4, x x z ),Where Y = level of participation (0,1) X 1 = Age of respondent (years), X 2 = Educational status (No of years spend in school) X 3 = Household size (no), X 4 = Membership of cooperative society (dummy) X 5 = Income (N), X 6 = Years of experience in farming X 7 = Contact with extension agents (dummy), X 8 = Household status (full time, non full time) Results and Discussion Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Respondents From Table 1 about 33.33% of the age groups were between years followed by years (31.66%). The mean age of the respondents was 38 years. This indicates that, the majority of the respondents were young and still energetic to take part in rural Studies have shown that young people are less conservative and ready to take up innovation (Ekong 2003). Marital status shows 60.3% of the respondents being married. This indicating that majority of the respondents were people who have first responsibilities to their family and then their involvement in rural development project to improve the standard of living of their families. Education from Table 1 shows that 99% of the respondents completed at least primary school education. This implies that majority of the respondents were literate. Literacy level of the respondents is a very important variable as it influences the ability to properly comprehend new techniques and method required to bring about positive changes to the knowledge attitudes, skill and aspirations of the respondents, consequently giving way to their participation in rural development project. Result on membership of cooperative shows that about 85% of the respondents belong to cooperatives. This indicates that respondents could afford the opportunities to acquire more skills and economic opportunities as a group thereby accomplishing necessary tacks to transform their rural areas. Table 1: Distribution of respondents according to their Socio-Economic Characteristics (N=120) Variables Age Frequency Percentage Marital Status Single Married Widowed/Divorced Separate Education Nonformal education Primary school complete Secondary school incomplete Secondary school complete Tertiary Total Cooperative Society Membership (yes) Non membership Types of Rural Development Activities in the Study Area From Table 2, the types of rural development projects available were bore hole project 98.3%, electricity project (98.3%), health care centre, (97.5%,) maternity centre (95.9%) and civil centre (71.6%). This result revealed that the basic needs of the respondents in the study area were water, energy, health and hospital and that they were being well taken care of in the community, that means large number of respondents partake in them. The result also showed that means of transportation was not always available. Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1094

4 Table 2: Types of Rural Development Activities in The Study Area Available frequency Percentage Not available frequency Percentage Pipe borne water project Bore hole project Electricity Good road construction Building of houses Market stall construction Education facilities School rehabilitation Hospitals Clinics Maternity center Health care centers Child care centre Transport Improved Agricultural Technology Civil centre Level of Participation in Rural Development Projects Table 3 shows the Level of rural women participation in rural This data showed that majority participated in bore hole project (2.43), electricity projects (2.43), civil centre construction (2.38), Improved Agric. Technology (2.25), transport (2.23). From the result it can be deduced that women level of participation in rural development projects is high (31.87) in the study area. Participation is one of the prerequisites of sustainability in rural Table 3: Distribution Of Respondents Based On Their Level Of Participation in Rural Development Projects Form of participation Total response Mean Remark Pipe borne water project DA Bore hole project A Electricity project A Good road construction A Building of houses DA Market stall construction DA Communication facilities DA School rehabilitation A Hospitals DA Clinics DA Maternity center A Health care centers DA Child care centre DA Transport A Improved Agric tech A Civil centre A Total Clustered mean (CX) = 1.99 DA A=Agreed, DA=Disagreed Table 4 shows that the respondents perceived rural development projects as bringing economic and social development in the area (3.68), bring about development of infrastructure (3.63), create employment (3.63), integrate the rural poor (3.56) and raise the standard of living in the community (3.30). This implies that majority (3.01) had a positive perception of rural development project and therefore could be mobilized to transform the rural areas. Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1095

5 Table 4: Distribution of Respondents According To The Perception Of Rural Women In Rural Development Projects S/N Item Total response X Remark 1 It brings economic and social development in the area A 2 It brings development of infrastructure A 3 It creates employment A 4 Bringing together public services A 5 It increases production and raise productivity among member A 6 It integrates the rural poor A 7 It helps in income distribution improvement and equitability in A services 8 Improvement in food production and supply A 9 It empowers rural people A 10 It raises the standard of living in the community A 11 It brings financial support planning in business A 12 It assure better access to information DA 13 It creates home processing activities A 14 It creates environmental protection DA 15 Improving training programmes DA 16 It creates crafts shops DA Total Source: Field Survey, 2009 A=Agreed, DA=Disagreed Clustered mean (CX) =3.01 A The Constraints Facing Rural Women In Rural Development Table 5 on constraints show that lack of loans without collaterals(3.94), lack of capacity building for the women (3.93), setting up plan of action (3.69), implementation of the project (3.69), low price of agricultural produce(3.65 ) and lack of commitment (3.61) were the major constraints facing respondents involved in rural development project(s), while level of education/literacy, technical knowhow on the part of available technical staff, absence of health workers, less assess to productivity resources, lack of proper storage of food product were the least constraints facing respondents. The implication here is in spite of the women s participation level and perception; they are constrained in their participation. Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1096

6 Table 5: Distribution of Respondents According To The Constraints Facing Rural Women In Rural Development S/N Constraints item Total response Mean (X) Remark Ranking 1 Lack of commitment A 5 2 Setting up plan of action A 3 3 Implementation of the project A 3 4 Full utilization of the available project A 10 5 Low price of agricultural procedure A 4 6 Migration A 6 7 Percentage of the active population A 15 8 Absence of a scientific effort on A 11 improving agricultural training 9 Level of education/literacy A None governmental support A 17 (assistance) 11 Inadequate rural finance (micro credit) A Absence of economics, political and A 12 Legal power to improve their circumstances 13 Role conflict A Political interference in providing A 7 rural infrastructure 15 Fund mismanagement A Manpower development and training A Technical know how on the part of available technical staff 18 Absence of health workers A Lack of proper storage of food A 22 product 20 Less assess to productivity resources A Lack of job opportunity A Lack of loans without collaterals A 1 23 Lack of capacity building for the A 2 women 24 High cost of transport A 8 Total Clustered mean (CX) 3.37 A The correlation among the socio-economic characteristics and rural women participation in rural Table 6 shows the correlation between the selected characteristics and rural women participation in rural The table shows that age (-186*), marital status (-203*) and occupation (-181*) were significant at 5% and negatively related to women participation in rural development while years spent in school(227*) was significantly and positively related to rural women participation in rural The indication on age is that as the age of respondents increased, the level of participation of these rural women decreased. This decrease in the level of participation could be as a result of the older women being constrained by energy and more conservative. In the case of marital status which is negatively related to participation, indicates that most married people have responsibilities to their families and community. The greater the level of responsibility, the less the time and energy channeled into rural On occupation, as the occupational status of respondents increase, the level of participation in rural development projects decreased. This implies less time to participate actively in rural Years spent in school was significant at 5% and positively related to level of participation in rural development. This implies that as years spent in school increase, the level of participation increased. The increase could bring about positive changes in the knowledge, attitude, and aspiration of the rural women in rural development. Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1097

7 Table 6: The correlation among the socio-economic characteristics and rural women participation in rural Variables OT Age MS Edu Yis Occ Copp Wcop Age grd OT * * * * Age ** ** ** ** * Marital Status ** ** ** Education ** ** xx Years in sch xx xx Occupation xx Other Copp Women Cop xx Age grade 1 Conclusion The study concludes that for effective transformation to take place in our rural areas rural women most participate actively and have a positive perception towards rural development programmes. Based on findings, the following recommendations were made. The participation of the rural women in rural development should be sustained and more programme on awareness of this group carried out periodically. Provision of employment, empowerment and capacity building for the rural women as a way of increasing their perception and participation in rural development projects in the communities. References Akpabio, I. A (2000): Determinants of Levels of Social Participation In Farmers Local Organization In Akwa Ibom State Agric- Extension Services Dept, University of Ibadan. Pp32-38 ASAP Africa (2006). A Self Help Assistance Program; Ekong E. (2003). An Introduction to Rural Sociology, 2 nd edition, Dove Educational Publishers, 80 Willington Bassey Way, Uyo, Nigeria. pp Hunger Project (2000), Women Participation in Rural Development Economic Projects. pp Ntombi Futhi Z. (2005), Development Pattern, Rural Government Empowerment, Women Conference. Obasi,O.O (2005). Women in Rural Development, the Nigerian Experience, In Agricultural and Rural Sociology, (ed). Ike Nwachukwu and Onuekwusi G.C.. Snaap Press Ltd. Enugu. Pp Unifem, (2002), Impact of Micro-Economic Policies On Rural Women Projects In Africa. Pp Volume 15 (2): , 2012 Page 1098