Socio-economic Determinants and Saving Patterns of Women Yam Producers in Benue State, Nigeria

This study examined socio-economic characteristics of women yam producers to determine their saving types and patterns in Ukum local government area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. Data for the study was collected through the use of well-designed qualitative questionnaires combined with oral interviews. 80 women yam producers which serve as sample size of the study were selected through purposive and multi-stage random methods, respectively. Descriptive statistics was used in the analyzes of data. Findings revealed that 80 (100%) of the respondents were female within the age range of 21- 29 years (33.8%). The majority of the women yam producers (51.3%) were married with majority (57.5%) of them had 7-13 years of schooling, and had household size of 6-10 members (52.5%). Majority (51.3%) of the women yam producers had years of experience in farming of 6-10 years. Further, findings revealed on types of savings method undertaken by respondents shows that of the formal type, majority (71.3%) of the respondents save their income with Bank of Agriculture while findings revealed that informal type of savings method undertaken by respondents shows that majority (55%) of the respondent’s carryout their savings through adashe, The difficulty of finding sufficient seasonal migrant hired labor for yam mound making is one of the biggest constraints to women yam producers other critical constraints are the yam pest and disease problem coupled with high cost, scarcity, and low quality of seed yam. This study concluded that yam is produced with low technologies for labor saving, seed production, and yam pest and disease control. It is thus recommended that a yam seed system should be developed by root and tubers research institute in association with yam producers for provision of sustainable improved quality yam seeds for higher crop productivity in the country.