|
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
Rural Outreach Program
ISSN: 1684-5358 EISSN: 1684-5358
Vol. 13, No. 5, 2013, pp. 8224-8237
|
Bioline Code: nd13081
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
|
|
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Vol. 13, No. 5, 2013, pp. 8224-8237
en |
OCCUPATIONAL DIVERSIFICATION AMONG RURAL WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A REVIEW
Ajani, Evangeline N. & Igbokwe, E. M.
Abstract
Rural women need to diversify their occupations since farming in sub-Saharan Africa
is rain-fed and, therefore, seasonal. This is to enable them to acquire additional
income to take care of economic responsibilities during off-season periods. This paper
reviews current literature in the field in both farm and non-farm occupations and
effects of occupational diversification, which varies from negative to positive effects.
One major negative effect is withdrawal of critical labour from the family farm which
serves as a distress push factor while the positive effects include raising agricultural
household income which is also referred to as demand pull factor. The paper also
discusses government initiated programmes aimed at reducing poverty, vulnerability
and targeted towards economic empowerment of rural women in Nigeria such as
Better Life Programme (BLP), Family Support Programme (FSP), Agricultural
Development Programme (ADP), Family Economic Advancement Programme
(FEAP), National Special Programme on Food Security (NSPFS) and Family
Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP). Worthy of note is that some of these
programmes have failed to achieve the aims of their establishment, mainly because
most of these government initiated programmes were highly politicised to the
detriment of the beneficiaries. This left rural women with the option of involvement
in diversification of occupations. This is to enable them generate additional income to
empower themselves economically to meet their family obligations thus reducing
vulnerability and poverty among members of their households. Occupational
diversification is of increasing importance for women’s economic empowerment.
This paper asserts that the contribution made by occupational diversification to rural
livelihoods is a significant one that has often been ignored by policy makers who
choose to focus on agriculture. The paper recommends the need for government
policies and programmes to promote the development of human capital among the
rural women to equip them with the necessary skills to work in non-farm activities.
Keywords
Occupation; Diversification; Rural; Women; Africa
|
|
© Copyright 2013 - African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development Alternative site location: http://www.ajfand.net/
|
|