Gender Roles and Challenges of Small Scale Processed Cashew Nut Marketers in Enugu North, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined gender roles and challenges of small scale processed cashew nut marketers in Enugu North senatorial zone of Enugu State. Interview schedule was used to collect data from 72 respondents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Small scale processed cashew nut marketers were dominated by female youths with mean age of 31 years and making a monthly income of between ?10,000.00 - ?14,999.00 from cashew nut marketing. The marketing strategy mostly used by marketers of processed cashew nut products in the study area was lowering of the product price (73.6%). The roles performed by marketers of small scale processed cashew nut products across gender were effective except selling of the products in which men were not involved at all. None of the extension services received by cashew nut marketers across gender was effective. The major challenges facing small scale processed cashew nut marketing enterprise were lack of institutional support (M=3.86) and poor quality of products (M=3.26). The study therefore recommends that the government critically examines its policy thrust on cashew nut production so as to attract private sector participation.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n4p21