Gender Roles in Groundnut Value Chain (GVC) among Households under USAID Groundnut Up-Scaling Project (GUP) in Sokoto State, Nigeria

This study investigates gender roles in the Groundnut Up-scaling Project (GUP) intervention in Sokoto State, Nigeria, focusing on three rural communities out of five participating local government areas (PLGAs). The main objective is to analyze gender participation in the Groundnut Value Chain (GVC) among households under the USAID-GUP. A multi-stage sampling procedure selected 100 (56 male and 44 female) GVC participants, and 100 (84 male and 16 female) non-participants using the snowball sampling method in the non-participating LGAs (NPLGAs). The objectives were achieved with a descriptive and inferential Chi-square. The findings show that female participants dominate processing activities (72.7%) in the PLGAs, while males dominate production (92.9%). In the NPLGAs, 90.5% of males and 75.0% of females are involved in production. Informal sources are the main credit providers for both PLGAs and NPLGAs. Male participants in both PLGAs and NPLGAs cultivate more of an improved groundnut variety (Samnut – 22), with 64.3% and 70.5% of males and females in PLGAs and 59.5% and 56.3% of males and females in NPLGAs sourcing their land through inheritance. The average mean household income is higher for males (₦892,410.71 and ₦1,008,907.14) compared to females (₦531,386.36 and ₦495,000.00) in both PLGAs and NPLGAs, respectively. Significant differences between male and female categorical variables are observed at different nodes of the GVC in both PLGAs and NPLGAs, including input supply, groundnut production, harvesting, post-harvest handling, marketing, processing, and household chores. In conclusion, the study finds that the USAID-GUP activities, which aimed to promote gender equality, have not fully bridged gender inequalities in all GVC nodes. Gender equity amongst GUP participants has not been fully achieved. The study recommends addressing social and cultural rigidities to enhance gender equity participation in GVC nodes and effectively implement programs.