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Dr. S.O. Odebode-Current Research

Completed

Personal/Team Research

a)    Appropriate Technology For Rural Women in the Processing of Cassava and Soya bean in Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined the technological needs of rural women as they relate to cassava and soya bean processing activities and the extent to which technologies introduced by the Women-In-Agriculture unit (WIA) of the Agricultural Development Project are being adopted. The study revealed that the traditional contribution of women to agricultural production has been rendered inefficient by the crude and inappropriate form of agricultural technology frequently used. This results in low agricultural productivity which is inversely proportional to the enormous labour intensive input. Improved processing technologies identified include vibrating sieve, abrasive peeler, and motorized grater, solar or drum drier and screw jack/ hydraulic press. Processed cassava products include “gari”, “lafun”, starch and “fufu”, while processed soya bean products include “soya egusi”, “soya-iru”, and soya milk. The need for improved simpler house hold technological methods which will enhance agricultural productivity and economic growth was recommended.

b)    Comparative Analysis of Vegetable Production among Rural and Urban Women of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State

This study identified vegetable production as a major source of income for rural and urban women farmers in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State. Urban women farmers have more access to extension services than the rural women farmers. Majority of the rural and urban women vegetable farmers practice vegetable farming through irrigation.

c)    Contributions of Snail Rearing to Household Food Security in Nigeria

The study revealed that snail farming provides food, income, raw materials for livestock, preserves wildlife, encourages recycling, medicine, creates job opportunities and reduces seasonality of snail supply. Moreover, snail farming contributes to household food security and household diets in Nigeria.

d)    Promotion of Sweet Potato Flour in the Preparation of Snacks in Nigeria: Rural Women Experience

The study promoted the use of sweet potato flour in the preparation of snacks. Rural women were exposed to the preparation of sweet potato puff-puff, cake, chin-chin, biscuits, etc., thus improving the income generating capacity of rural women in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

It was therefore found necessary to tap the potential in sweet potato (a short-term crop) to train women in processing sweetpotato flour for income generation since in Africa, assets are not uniformly distributed between males and females and women are primary responsible for food production while men dominate the control of land. A range of snacks was therefore introduced to the low-income women for economic empowerment.

e)    Contributions of Non-Timber Forest Products to Household Food Security in Akinyele Local Government of Oyo State

This study revealed that non-timber products usually meet a large number of basic necessities of life of people by providing food, medicines, fibres and cash income (from their sale) for rural households. This study also revealed different non-timber forest products available in Nigeria. These include wine, dye, honey, bush meat, firewood, snails, chewing stick, charcoal, herbs, grasses, etc.

f)    Improving Nutrition through Home Gardening for Food Income and Nutrition Security in Nigeria

This study investigated the potential of home gardening in improving the nutrition of farming households in Nigeria to improve rural economy for improved nutrition and food security. This shows that rural households can improve their health status and their income capabilities through crops planted in the home gardens. This then established the fact that home gardening improves farmer’s socio-economic status, income, food and nutrition security. Home gardening must therefore be broad-based in activity as a tool in transforming rural economy.

g)    Empowering Low-Income Women through production of sweet potato snacks In Nigeria

Production of sweet potato snacks had been found to be an important source of income for the low-income women. Hence, empowering women through strengthening of their control over a range of assets is critical for enhancing their income. It was therefore found necessary to tap the potential in sweet potato (a short-term crop) to train women in processing sweet potato flour for income generation since in Africa, assets are not uniformly distributed between males and females Moreover, women are primary responsible for food production while men dominate the control of land. A range of snacks was therefore introduced to the low-income women for economic empowerment.

h)    Development of Gender equity and Sexual Harassment Policy Documents in the University of Ibadan

The study identified why gender equality is a basic human right and that dignity and integrity of both men and women should be equally respected and valued by the society. This serves the interest of both sexes in studies, research, training and development activities thereby evolving a governance, administrative, teaching and research culture.  Gender sensitivity in the use of language, evolving a gender-friendly environment that is respectful of the academic freedom and human rights of each sex was recommended. The research on sexual harassment revealed the need to create for all staff, students and service providers a safe and secured work and learning environment free of SH respect for both sexes. The need to strengthen U.I’s commitment to individual professional development and well being through enforcement of non-sexist language and actions was suggested.

i)   Using Gender Balance in Research and Higher Education For Development.

The study identified the reasons why gender equality is a basic human right, and closing the gender gap is the key to achieving many developments since objectives, development practitioners and advocates concerned with achieving many development since objectives, development practitioners and advocates concerned with achieving equality are often constrained by the lack of information to justify targeting limited resources toward closing the gender gap. This study found this to be true.

j)     Development of Gender equity Policy Document in University of Ibadan

k)    Development of Sexual Harrassment Document for University of Ibadan


Research Focus

         As an Agricultural Extensionist, the place of Gender and Generational issues in Agricultural Extension for Rural Development is my research focus. This  involves  Gender Dynamics and impact of activities on women in particular, improved processing to enhance income,  alternative activities of rural women for empowerment through various means (e.g. sweet potato processing,snailry,non-timber forest products e.t.c)for improved rural livelihoods for rural social change  as practised by women from development interventions.  This focus also involves entrepreneurship promotion through community participation of women in resource management, thereby enhancing rural income generation, decrease rural poverty and increase food security.

   Various studies through extension learning showed women as a variable in development studies with socially constructed roles, responsibilities, constraints and opportunities.  Some of these socially constructed roles, responsibilities, constraints have been identified and measured quantitatively and qualitatively through gender dynamics and impact of activities on women in particular.  The need for current research methodology necessitated  article 1 which focused on  preparing a research report for good analytical result in research design.

   Articles on entrepreneurship promotion through community participation of women in resource management revealed enhanced income through various crops   such as cassava, sweet potato for food security and poverty alleviation through improved processing techniques and this led to various findings on  value-added to sweet potato as an  alternate crop  for improved food security and poverty alleviation of rural folks. Recipes of sweet potato include sweet potato cakes, puff-puff, drink, meat-pies, biscuits, buns, stew/soup e.t.c

                     Various improved technologies available for improved productivity became a point of focus since the traditional contribution to agricultural development has been rendered inefficient by, among other things, the crude and inappropriate form of technologies frequently in use which result in  relatively low agricultural productivity which is inversely proportional to the enormous labour intensive input, the need for  women  to use appropriate technology in the processing  of their crops for increased productivity.  It was discovered that the bottom –up and participatory principle must be used  for sustainable transfer of technology for enhanced income.

        It is against the knowledge of the teaching methods used in information dissemination for sustainable technology transfer that the potential and  constraints that the rural people  face were identified. Various extension approaches have been used to proffer  solutions to various constraints militating against their roles. 

                 Further years of experience have indicated the need to use participatory tools to elicit information from the rural folks especially women to  complement the quantitative approach to further gain insight into the perspectives of the local population.

         My research experiences have observed effective means of empowering  women in the rural area through  entrepreneurship promotion with community participation of women in resource management to allow them participate as a group for increased productivity and improved food security, as well as income generating capabilities.

         A broader outlook on gender studies for increasing agricultural production and transforming the rural sector in Nigeria is therefore necessary.