Participation of rural women in groundnut cake-making enterprise in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Groundnut cake-making is a value-adding activity in rural Nigeria. However, there is limited information on rural women’s participation in the enterprise in Kwara State. This study examined rural women's participation in groundnut cake-making enterprises in Kwara State, Nigeria, focusing on their socioeconomic characteristics, level of involvement, perceived benefits, and challenges encountered. The study employed a three-stage sampling procedure to select 160 respondents. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, multiple regression, and Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings revealed that the average age was 46 years, more than half (53.1%) of the respondents were married, had an average of 16.9 years in processing, and had a mean annual income of ₦ 219,337.50. Most (71.9%) of the respondents had a high level of participation. Key benefits were improved economic growth of the community (x̄ = 4.29) and increased employment rate for women (x̄ = 4.25), while major challenges faced were inadequate capital (x̄ = 3.68) and high cost of transportation (x̄ = 3.44). Years of experience in groundnut processing (β=0.44, p<0.01) influenced the women’s participation in groundnut cake processing. The study concludes that rural women in the study area were highly involved in groundnut cake processing activities despite being faced with challenges and recommends enhanced access to credit facilities, extension services, and cooperative structures to improve productivity and sustainability.