ISSN 2360-798X
Abstract
This study examined the impact of the Women-in-Agriculture and Youth Empowerment (WAYE) programme on income among Irish potato women farmers in Plateau State. Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to select 512 respondents. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaires and were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean farming experience was 10 years for WAYE participants and 16 years for non-WAYE participants, while the mean farm size for participants, non-WAYE participants, and non-participants was 1.4 ha and 0.5 ha. Determinants of Irish potato income of programme participants show that farm size (1.184, P<0.01), age (0.410, P<0.05), education (0.050, P<0.01), farm input (0.293, P<0.10), farm experience (0.046, P<0.01), and extension contact (0.362, P<0.01) are determinants. F-chow statistics show that the WAYE programme had a positive impact on the income of programme participants. It was recommended that the WAYE Programme organisation should increase the amount of loan disbursement to N250,000 so as to increase participation, extend the repayment period, lower interest rates, and extend the programme to other farming communities in Plateau State, thereby improving the standard of living of women farmers in the state.
Keywords: Impact, WAYE Programme, Irish potato, output, Standard of living, Women farmers
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