George, T. O. (2008) WOMEN, ENVIRONMENT AND FOOD PRODUCTION: THE CHALLENGE OF THE NIGER DELTA. In: International Conference On The Nigerian State, Oil Industry And The Niger Delta, March 11-13 2008, Beyelsa State, Nigeria.
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Abstract
This paper attempt to appraise the contributions of rural women to food production and the various challenges encountered in maximizing their potentials in the Niger Delta. It acknowledges the fact that despite women 's roles as natural home-makers, care-givers and cradle rockers, their place in food production cannot be over-looked. Their activities range from vegetable farming of all kinds to cassava and rice production. The women not only produce but also process, market and distribute farm produce to consumers either on a small, medium or large scale. Despite their huge presence and enormous contributions to the food sector, the poverty level of the rural women in the Niger Delta region is worrisome and calls for concern. The article adopts the political economy approach as a theoretical framework. It demonstrates that social, cultural, and physical environmental factors are major obstacles to women. The paper demonstrates that due to certain sociocultural inhibitions, women do not have access to land and credit facilities to enhance their maximum participation in food security thus the struggle continues. These environmental factors coupled with oil exploration activities in the region pose serious threats for food production and sustainability in the near future. The paper recommends strategies for overcoming the obstacles including the removal of socio-cultural inhibitions, new environmental laws to protect the rights of women and the active involvement of women in designing and implementing policies that directly affect them.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HM Sociology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Mr Adewole Adewumi |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Nov 2012 17:41 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Apr 2015 12:38 |
| URI: | http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/840 |
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