ACTIVITIES OF WOMEN IN HOME GARDENING IN OVIA NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the activities of women in home gardening in Ovia North-East L.G.A. of Edo state. A total of 80 respondents were sampled using the snowball sampling technique. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, means and chi-square analysis. Results revealed that 36.0% of the women were mainly between 41 to 50 years of age. About 74.7% were married and 64.0% had passed through tertiary institutions. The major crops cultivated were pumpkin (93.3%), bitter leaf (90.7%), pepper (88.0%) and green vegetables (84.0%). Some of the activities carried out by the women themselves in the garden include planting (X=3.37) and weeding (X=2.91). The reasons adduced for establishing home garden were ready supply of food for the household (88.0%) and income generation (66.7%). A significant association exist between the respondents’ years of farming experience and the activities carried out in the garden (χ² = 9.10; p < 0.05). It was recommended that more women should be encouraged to establish home gardens around their house and those that already do should be reached with extension services on how to tackle problems such as pest and disease infestations.