ABSTRACT

The study was designed to examine Gender, asset holding and resource use efficiency of smallholder arable crops farm households in Abia State, Nigeria. It specifically analyzed the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, the allocative efficiency of the farmers and the performance of the farm in terms of gross margin. A multistage random sampling technique was used in the selection of 120 respondents consisting of 60 males and 60 females arable crop farmers drawn from 12 communities from six LGAs. Primary data were used for the study. Data analyses, were by the use of descriptive statistics and econometric tools like frequencies, percentages, tables, multiple regression technique, correlation analysis and gross margin. The results of the study showed that the mean ages of the male and female arable crop farmers were approximately 50 and 51 years respectively. The farmers were mostly married, with mean house hold size of 6 and 8 persons per household for male and female farmers respectively. The farmers were literate and quite experienced in arable farming. The annual income of the farmers were low with mean annual income of N96,506.71 for the male farmers and the females N86,200.43. Cassava, yam, melon, okro seeds. Cocoyam tuber, plantain, cowpea, banana, potato, waterleaf and Greenleaf were the major arable crops grown in the study area by the male and female farmers. Cassava, yam, melon, okra seed, cocoyam tuber, plantain, cowpea, banana, potato, waterleaf and Greenleaf were the major arable crops grown in the study area by the male and female farmers. The farm resource inputs were not efficiently allocated and managed by the male and female farmers. The asset holding of male and female farmers had profitable and productive farms. The asset holding of male and female farmers have positive significant linear associations with gross margin and total factor productivity. The study recommended that policies and programs aimed at increasing output, income and uplifting the living standard amongst male and female rural farmers should strive at increasing efficiency of resource use among the farmers.