The Role of Women in Sustainable Conservation Agriculture as a Viable Alternative to Traditional Farming Practices in Imo State, Nigeria

This study examined the role of women in sustainable conservation agriculture as a viable alternative to traditional farming
practices in Imo State. It analyzed specifically the; socio-economic characteristics of women involved in conservation
agricultural practices, various forms of sustainable conservation practices/methods used by the women farmers, effect of
conservation practices on agricultural food crop production and the constraints confronting women farmers in the area.
Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers from the three agricultural zones of Imo State with
the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical descriptive tools such as percentage, mean,
frequency distribution and multiple regression technique. Results reveal that majority (42.5%) falls within the age group of
41 to 50years with an average age of 46years. Majority (48.3%) of the women had secondary education with an average
farming experience of 16years and cultivated 1.1 hectare of farmland. Major sustainable conservation practices adopted in
the area amongst others include; multiple cropping (95%), soil cover (71.7%), organic manure (68.3%), erosion control
(64.2%) and crop rotation (57.5%). Regression analysis showed a positive and significant relationship between sustainable
conservation practices and agricultural production output. Constraints such as poor access to; improved planting materials,
credit facilities, farm lands, extension services and the burden of household chores were identified. However, there is need
for government and policy makers to address these constraints by providing objective measures via extension services on
adoption of sustainable conservation agricultural practices that can yield increased and sustain food crop production and
build resilience to the increasingly erratic climatic events occurring in the area.