EFFECT OF GENDER ON ACCESS TO FARM INPUTS BY MAIZE FARMERS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL OF FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA

The study assessed the effect of gender on farm input acquisitions among maize farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select eighty (80) maize farmers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Result showed that most of the farmers were between 40 and 50 years, between 90% and 100% married, 19.3 and 14.3 years of farming experience for female and male farmers respectively. Male respondents had more access to farm inputs such as inorganic fertilizers (65%), farm land (70%) and irrigation facility (12.5%). The female farmers had more of farm machines (52.5%), organic manure (70%) and improved seed (65%). Access to farm inputs was significantly influenced by household size (0.597), years of education (0.911) and years of farming (0.620) while for female farmers it was influenced by age (0.738), household size (0.404), years of education (0.719) and membership of farm based association (0.995). There is need for policy to address improved access to farm inputs to both male and female without gender bias, identified gender differences in farm inputs distribution should be eliminated and patriarchal land tenure which gives male more access to land should be addressed by legislature.