SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF GENDER PARTICIPATION IN POULTRY PRODUCTION IN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Poultry production plays a vital role in the socioeconomic development of Kano Metropolis, Nigeria, providing employment opportunities, enhancing household income, and ensuring food security. Despite the significant contributions of the poultry industry, women's participation in this sector remains constrained by various socioeconomic factors. This study aims to investigate the socio-economic status of gender participation in poultry production in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The study employs a quantitative data collection technique. A structured questionnaire was administered to 257 randomly selected poultry producers, including both men and women, to gather quantitative data on their socioeconomic characteristics, production activities, scale size, types of poultry reared, production system, and constraints faced. The study findings revealed only few (30%) of the poultry producers are females.  Males (48.0%) and (32.4%) of female poultry producers are married. Also, (30.7%) of males and (13.2%) of female poultry producers had tertiary education. In addition, most of the males (47.5%) and females (57.4%) are within age range of 31-40 years; similarly male (36.9%) and (23.5%) of female poultry producers mainly engaged in trading as their main occupation. However, male (35.2%) and female (35.2%) poultry producers had flock size of 50-500 birds. Moreover, only few males (42.5%) and females (44.1%) poultry producers have contact with veterinary extension agents. Regarding poultry management activities participation, female producers were found to participate mostly in Feeding (43.6%), Sanitation (41.6%), Medication (29.4%) and Water Management (27.9%). On other hand their male counterpart mostly participated in house construction (39.1%), Medication (40.8%) Sanitation (36.3%) and feeding (30.7%). Findings also show majority of males (67.6%) and female (72.1%) poultry producers use intensive system of livestock production in the study area.  The result findings also reveals insufficient fund (85.3%) and Domestic and household work (72.1%) as the major constraints posing threats to women/female participation in poultry production. The study concluded that poultry production is dominated by male/men and therefore, recommended that there is need to organize programs that will include more woman in poultry production.