Determinants of Women Involvement and Adoption of Improved Methods of Groundnut Processing Technologies in Three (3) Local Government Areas of Niger State, Nigeria

There is gender division of women in farm labour in Niger State. The gender division of women in farm labour assigns women more responsibilities in the processing of groundnut as Agricultural Food Product and yet, women have no access to improved methods of groundnut processing and depend mainly on the traditional methods. Hence, this study was undertakento examine the determinants of women involvement and adoption of improved groundnut processing technologies using a total population sample size of 180 respondents. The results showed that education level, income and years of groundnut processing experience are significant at 5% probability level, that is, it has positive influence on the adoption and involvement of women processors on improved groundnut technologies. The result further revealed that about 85% and 78% of the respondents in the study area were involved on improved groundnut sheller and oil press technologies, respectively. And about 79% and 56% of the respondents also shows that they adopt improved groundnut sheller and oil press technologies respectively. This implied that women processors need support from government and Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) to facilitate their involvement and adoption of improved groundnut technologies in the study area. Also, about 95% of the respondents in the study area indicated that there major constraints were increase in price of petro. This implied that petrol engine is used for processing when there is no electricity supply and women processors tend to spend more which is not economical and has negative influence on the involvement and adoption of improved groundnut technologies, in order to facilitate women processors involvement and adoption of improved groundnut technologies in the study area there is need for effective credit facilities either by Government or interested Non Governmental organization.