THE ROLE OF RURAL WOMEN FARMERS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE

Thesis Overview

<p><b>1.0 INTRODUCTION</b></p><p><b>1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY</b><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Women in Ovia North East Local Government Area in Edo State inspite of their daily roles to improve the existing standard are being looked down upon by their male counterpart as playing the second fiddle. A review of feminist literature indicates that there is now a demand for re-orientation of research and changes in methodological procedures used for complication of national income. There are at least three stands to this firstly; there is the issue that a considerable portion of women’s labour is not reflection in Ovia North East Local Government statistics. This is a phenomenon due to the fact that the labour of the house wife is not traded and valued at market prices.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Secondly, there is the formal versus informal sector issue. On a worldwide basis, but more so in the developing countries of the world women constitute the greater percentage of the informal sector labour forces. Thirdly, there is the rural-urban dichotomy more than not; women are left behind when there is male migration from rural to urban areas. These three issues are mutually self explanatory as women get left behind in the rural areas. They have limited opportunities for self improvement. They are therefore suitable mainly informal sector employment. Their labour as house wives, house maids etc is not accurately affected in nation statistics. Another relevant issue is that where women are in selection for religions or social reasons, enumerators who are more often men cannot meet the women to accurately appraise their labour input.</p><p><br><b>1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS </b>&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The basic premise of this essay is that the non involvement or marginalization of women in development programmes is wasteful and impedes effective economic development. Its effect is similar to inadequate use of factor of production in agriculture which means that the production possibilities curve is lower than it should be on the basis of this premise, the problem associated with the involvement of women in the economic development of Edo State and strategies of solving these problems are discussed.</p><p><br><b>1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY</b><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The objective of this paper is therefore to highlight the role of women in economic development of Ovia North East Local Government Area in Edo State with view to identifying attendant problem and suggesting possible solution.</p><p><b>1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY</b><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It is hoped that this study will be useful in selecting appropriate rural women in Ovia North East Local Government Area. it is also hoped that it will help the rural women in producing and advertising their products.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Finally, it is my hope that the project work will justify the economic investment in rural women in Ovia North East Local Government Area. <br></p>