Analysis of Gender Differentials in Credit Access among Rice Farmers in Benue State Nigeria

The study analyzed gender differentials in credit access among rice farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 346 respondents. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t- test and ANOVA. The results on the socioeconomic characteristics rice farmers showed that rice producers in the study area were mainly married male (63.7%) who were full time small-scale farmers (75.9%), young (47.6%), educated (71.6%), members of cooperative societies (74.1%), have not had contact with extension agents (75.9%), involved in off-farm activities (62.8%), well-experienced in rice farming with large household size (49.4%), own their farmlands with profit maximization as their production goal, and well to do given their annual farm and non-farm income. The analysis of credit accessed by farmers showed that the mean value of credit applied by male farmers (₦1, 002, 076.56) was greater than that applied by female farmers (₦933, 445.38) and the mean amount of credit obtained by male farmers (₦132, 990.43) was higher than the amount obtained by female farmers (₦127, 571.43). The study recommended that state governments in collaboration with traditional rulers should come up with policies targeted at reducing cultural barriers that make women farmers to have less access to land; joint liability borrowing should be encouraged among small-scale female farmers; and banks and other financial institutions should develop special financial products such as loans that cater for the needs of smallholder farmers particularly female farmers.