Estimation of Equation for Food Production (Food Security) by Women

The analysis of the equation ‘food production’ by women is done using logistic model. The output of the estimation is provided below.

Table. 20. Estimation of Equation for Food Production (Food Security) by Women

Variable Rice Potato Maize Banana Groundnut

Yrs in farming

0.1754*

[0.0950]

0.2707**

[0.1101]

Education -0.6198**

[0.2581]

Joint Ownership

0.5117***

[0.1942]

Mode of Acquisition

-0.3380**

[0.1558]

-0.2198**

[0.1039]

Farm problems

-0.9781**

[0.4028]

Cassava (base outcome) Prob>chi² = 0.0000 Pseudo R² = 0.1386

Note *, ** and *** Significance at 10%, 5% and 1% level, respectively.

Also, the analysis is a primary survey data, the low overall pseudo R-Squared of 14 percent could be concluded as relatively good fit. Besides, the pseudo R-squared may not be used to evaluate the overall model. The reference base outcome is cassava farming. All the crops farmed are compared to the reference base.

The following can be also observed that those who acquire land by means of inheritance prefer less of rice farming and other crops production compared to cassava farming which is the reference crop. The years of farming farmers point out that 0.17 of the number of years is spent on potato as compared to cassava farming; similarly, 0.27 of the years spent in farming is on groundnut when compared to cassava planting.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) also known as peanut is an important food and cash crop across West Africa. The crop is cultivated by small-household and resource poor farmers especially women AJAR, (2014).

The study found that most of the women groundnut farmers are in to full time ground nut production; the young ones are likely to adopt improved groundnut production technologies than the elderly ones. Most of the women famers had been left out by the agricultural development services in the country.

Groundnut is by far the most important grain legume grown in Sierra Leone. It is predominantly grown in the Northern province of the country IDRC, (1982). This however, does not agree with the findings of this research. The research results found out that, groundnut is now grown mostly in all areas in Sierra Leone even in the western area urban where agricultural activities are very

few. This probably as a result of the migration patterns after the war, wherein there has been internal migration. People moving from one part of the country to another, establishing homes and family and new patterns of agricultural activities.

The crop is among the most important crops for smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone, providing both food and income for households. Groundnut is a nutritious source of fats, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for human consumption and parts of the crop can be used for livestock feed. Groundnut production is dependent on land preparation, seed extraction, seeding, cultivation, harvesting, stripping and sun-drying. This process is labor intensive which can affect the productivity and quality of nuts produced. However, with the introduction of groundnut projects and simple technologies production yields can be increased.

The educational level of female headed farmers prefers less of groundnut farming as compared to cassava farming. The result for joint ownership which is predominant in rural area indicates that over half of those with joint ownership allocate land to groundnut farming as compared to cassava and other crops. Education is a measure for judging the quality of human resources and development stage of a society. Majority of the women that are engaged in groundnut production are illiterates or have very low level of education. This has a negative impact in terms of adapting to new and improved technologies that will foster yield. This agrees with reports of Imoh and Essian, hey noted that farmers’ level of education influenced adoption of technologies positively Imoh and Essian, (2005).

Groundnut farming is considered a women's crop in Africa. It was originally grown by women to supplement their family’s diet with protein. However, groundnut production can also be a way for women to earn cash income and participate in the economy. Consequently, increasing women's agency, and empowerment. Women value groundnut harvests for many reasons, including: harvest profits can send children to school, provides a high energy and protein food source for their children, oil for cooking, and high quality feed for cattle¹⁷.

Groundnut is among the most important crops for smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone, providing both food and income for households. Groundnut is a nutritious source of fats, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for human consumption and parts of the crop can be used

17 http://forest.mtu.edu/pcforestry/resources/studentprojects/groundnut.html

for livestock feed. Groundnut production is dependent on land preparation, seed extraction, seeding, and cultivation, harvesting, stripping and sun-drying. This process is labor intensive which can affect the productivity and quality of nuts produced. However, with the introduction of groundnut projects and simple technologies production yields can be increased¹⁸.

18 http://www.icrisat.org/gender-approach/ICRISAT-Gender-Research-Strategy.

CHAPTER FIVE: FNDINGS

5.0 Introduction

I have explored how women access land as a property, used and managed and contested by households in the rural or customary communities in Sierra Leone. The focus of the study has been on gender equity on land ownership linking that to food security. Other literature has been used to illustrate and argue that land and natural resource rights underpin land-based livelihood activities of women. In concluding this study, this chapter discusses the findings made during the research process.