EFFECTS OF CULTURAL PRACTICES ON RURAL WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE
This study examines the ways cultural practices influence the extent to which rural women take part in agricultural work, using Nigeria as the main setting and drawing comparative evidence from Africa, Asia, North America and South America. The general objective is to determine how culture affects rural women’s engagement in agriculture, to identify prominent practices across the selected continents, to examine the practices found in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and to compare areas of similarity and difference among the zones. The study used a systematic review approach. Evidence was obtained from scholarly journal articles, books, government publications, policy materials and reports issued by recognised organisations and institutions between 2020 and 2026. The evidence was interpreted through qualitative content analysis. Findings show that rural women make substantial contributions to Nigerian agriculture through crop farming, livestock keeping, fishing and fisheries, processing of agricultural produce, agricultural trade and other related activities. Nevertheless, restrictive and discriminatory cultural arrangements continue to weaken women’s ability to obtain land, farm credit, advisory support, improved technologies and other productive assets, and they also limit women’s influence over agricultural decisions. Across the settings reviewed, recurrent constraints include patriarchal inheritance arrangements, customary rules governing land, gender-based allocation of work, restrictions on movement, early marriage and male dominance in household and community decisions. Although comparable practices are found in Africa, Asia, North America and within Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, their form and severity differ with social and regional conditions. The study therefore argues for legal and institutional reform, gender-responsive agricultural measures, community sensitisation and stronger pathways through which women can obtain and control farming resources. Greater investment in women’s skills, finance, agricultural advisory services and decision-making voice is also necessary if their contribution to agriculture and rural development is to be fully realised.
Keywords: Agriculture, Cultural Practices, Rural Women, Agricultural Participation, Rural Development
