EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION PROJECT ON WELFARE STATUS OF RURAL WOMEN PROCESSORS IN OYO AND OSUN STATES, NIGERIA

Women are responsible for the bulk of agricultural processing activities in rural areas. Dearth of effective processing facilities has limited their productivity, thus predisposing them to low welfare status. Development Partnership in Higher Education (DELPHE) intervention sought to enhance women processors‟ capacity, however, its effect on their welfare status is yet to be ascertained. Therefore, the effects of DELPHE project on welfare status of rural women processors in Oyo and Osun states were investigated. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Four and two Local Government Areas (LGAs) from Osun and Oyo states, respectively where DELPHE project was executed were purposively selected. Two participating and two non-participating communities were randomly selected from each of the LGAs. Ninety six (Oyo) and 120 (Osun) beneficiaries were proportionately selected from the participating communities. Using same structure for non-beneficiaries, registered processors from non-participating communities were selected to give 32 (Oyo) and 56 (Osun) respondents. Structured interview schedule was used to collect data on respondents‟ personal and enterprise characteristics, knowledge of processing activities, participation in DELPHE project activities, benefits derived, attitude of participants, constraints to processing activities and welfare status. Indices of participation (0-18: 0-8 low, 9-18 high), benefits derived (Low 0-6, high 7-14), attitude towards the project (Unfavourable 49-62, favourable 63-84 ) and welfare status ( Worse ₦750-₦5,836, better ₦5,837-₦16,500) were generated. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression at