ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to investigate the effect of floriculture development on the livelihood of rural women in ikwuano L.G.A of Abia state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: to assess and document the state floriculture in the study area, to evaluate the impacts of flower business on the livelihood of rural women in the area, to determine the relationship between the type of flower grown and the income revenue. Primary data were conducted with the use of structured questionnaire. a total of one hundred(100) rural women were randomly selected. The result obtained was presented using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that 80% of the respondents agreed that the state of floriculture in the study area were influence by the cost of production, poor availability of flower species used in production, high rate of flower production while 10% of the respondents disagreed and 10% indicated no specific response. Challenges identified were based on responses of majority (> 75%) of the respondent encountered. The statistical test showed a significant positive relationship between the state of floriculture in the area and challenges encountered by women as (F1, 39 = 19.94,P<0.0001). The study concluded that floriculture in Ikwuano has not created sufficient jobs to make meaningful contribution to the improvement of livelihoods and reductions in poverty level. However, given proper attention and facilitation, floriculture has the potential to create numerous skilled and unskilled jobs for unemployed rural dwellers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of
Contents vi
List of
Figures viii
List of
Plates ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem 5
1.3 Justification of the Study 6
1.4 Scope of the Study 6
1.5 Limitations
of the Study 6
1.6 Aim and Objectives 7
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept of Horticulture 8
2.1.1 Economic perspective 8
2.1.2 Environmental benefits of floriculture and
landscaping 9
2.1.3 Effects on soil 10
2.1.4 Effects on aquatic life 10
2.1.5 Effect of pesticides used in floriculture 11
2.1.6 Waste disposal 11
2.2 Overview of Floriculture
Industries 11
2.3 Other
Countries Experience in the Floriculture Industry 14
2.4 Economic Importance of
Floriculture 16
2.5 Socio-Economic Significance of Floriculture to Developing
nations 17
2.6 Environmental Impacts of Floriculture
Industries 19
2.7 Environmental Planning 19
2.7.1 Novel designs and resource use 19
2.7.2 Pollution control 20
2.7.3 Soil stabilization 21
2.7.4 Wind control and climate modulation 21
2.7.5 Education 22
2.7.6 Parks and gardens 22
2.7.7 Awareness 23
2.8 The Prospects of Floriculture 24
2.9 Challenges in the Horticultural Industry 24
2.10 The Global Context of Rural Women Livelihood 24
2.10.1 Ornamental plants 26
2.10.2 Taxonomical studies of ornamental plants 27
2.10.3 Contribution of some ornamental plants to the
socio-economic
development of nations 28
2.10.4
Classification of ornamental
plant based on herbaceous ornamentals:
Annual, perennials and ornamental grasses 30
2.10.5 Care of ornamental plants in the landscape 31
2.10.6 Ornamental plants and their role in human
psychology 32
2.11 Floriculture and Livelihood Security: The
India Experience 33
2.12 Care and Maintenance of Flower Production 36
2.13 Working
Conditions 36
2.14 Benefits of Flower
Farms to Workers Wellbeing 37
2.15 Effects of Flower Farming on Workers’ Health 37
2.16 Effects of Flower Farming on the Larger
Community 38
2.17 Flower, Ecosystem and Human Health 40
2.18 Economics of Floriculture:
Review of Empirical Evidences 40
CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study Area 45
3.2 Population of the Study 48
3.3 Data Collection 48
3.4 Research Design 48
3.5 Data
Analysis 49
CHAPTER 4:
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Results 50
4.2 Discussion
50
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion 57
5.2 Recommendations 58
References
Appendices
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Map
of the study area, Ikwuano LGA of Abia State 46
Figure 2: Frequency of
responses on the status of flower
wreath and garland in
Ikwuano LGA. 50
Figure 3: Frequency of responses on the impact of floriculture on the
socioeconomic
Status of women
in Ikwuano LGA 51
Figure 4: Frequency of
responses on the challenges faced by women
Involved
in floriculture in Ikwuano LGA 53
Figure
5: The
relationship between the status of wreaths and garlands on the
Socioeconomic status of women in Ikwuano LGA 54
Figure
6: The
relationship between the status of wreaths and garlands and the
Challenges
of women involved in flower production in Ikwuano LGA 55
LIST OF PLATES
Plate
1: Alternathera Species 47
Plate
2: Ficus viriegata 47
Plate
3: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 47
Plate
4: Trichilia dregeana 47
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Floriculture
can be defined as “a branch of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of
flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the
floral industry (Getu,2009). It can also be defined as “The segment of
horticulture concerned with commercial production, marketing, and sale of
bedding plants, cut flowers, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, flower
arrangements, and noncommercial home gardening.” Flowers have always remained
an integral part of the social fabric of human life due to its essence and
fragrance being essential on functions of any society since time immemorial
(Praveen, 2011). The origin of flower and ornamental plant growing is
contemporary with agricultural crops. In the beginning, their use was
exclusively for aesthetic and religious purpose (Singh, 2007). Due to changes
in life style, living standards and increased urban affluence; floriculture has
gained commercial status in recent times. Along with that, the steady increase
of population virtually has created huge domestic demand for floricultural
products. The commercial activity of floriculture product is the foundation of
profitable and excellent employment opportunities to most rural women (Narendra,
2000).
Agriculture in most African countries
contributes about 85 percent to livelihood, 50 percent to (GDP) Gross Domestic
Products and 90 percent to the export market of the country (Medium, 2002).
Coffee, tea, cotton, cereals, oil seeds, fruits, vegetables and livestock products
are the major agricultural products used for domestic consumption and export.
Coffee alone account for up to 60 percent of total exports (Medium, 2002).
Horticulture and Floriculture sub sectors are relatively new to export and
contain a huge potential to earn foreign currency through balanced export and
diversification. The amount of flower products exported from Ethiopia for
example, is currently at a minimal with respect to the international market
demand. However, the competitive edge gained by Ethiopian cut flowers,
especially roses, in European markets has attracted several stakeholders.
Floriculture is getting utmost consideration for export presently in Ethiopia (Medium,
2002).
Floriculture continues to
be the most important economic sector in many Sub-Saharan Africa countries
(Raikes, 1997) and the regions relation to the world economy is persistently
shaped by agro food commodities and minerals (Gibbon and Pontec, 2005). Over
the last two decades many African countries have turned to non-traditional
agricultural exports reflecting their comparative advantages as a strategy for
achieving growth (McCulloh and Ota, 2002). One example of non-traditional
agricultural exports which is considered a major success story in Africa
Agriculture is the Nigerian cut flower industry (Gabre-Madhin and Hagg-blade,
2004). This industry, which in many ways is characteristics for economic
globalization, has experienced phenomenal growth rates when the Nigerian
economy as a whole was declining. Interestingly, the global cut flower
producers and especially Nigerian ones have also been at the forefront of
embracing ethnical trading initiatives.
In Nigeria and Abia state in particular,
agriculture is the mainstay of majority in our population and this critical
sector is mostly dominated by women (NEST, 2011). Women play a major role in
food production, food distribution, and food utilization – the three components
of food security; they also undertake a range of community-level activities
that support agricultural development (UNDP, 2011). Nigeria’s agricultural and
allied industrial sectors employ about 15% of total female labor force (FAO, 2010).Although
the African Union had declared 2015 as the ‘Year of Women Empowerment’ by
passing a policy, most rural women’s work have not been accounted in official
statistics, and data collection agencies admit serious under-estimation (Leach
and Sitaram,2002;Argawal,2010).
Similarly, in Nigeria women contribute 70% of labor
in the agricultural sector but they hold only 1% of registered land titles
(Dolan, 2007). Women’s limited ability to own land and property negatively
affects their ability to participate in producer groups, receive income for
their labour, and gained from agricultural services (Ellis et al., 2007). While Women’s income in mostly sub Saharan nations
including Nigeria directly benefits family and cover expenses of food and basic
needs, men’s income usually goes for assets, luxuries and liquor.(Govindasamy
and Hsu, 2012 ) This realization should stir development of income generating
activities like practicing floriculture for women on a large scale (Boserup,
1989). However, the strategy has not fully succeeded since poverty stricken
women are increasingly faced with fewer opportunities to work due to lack of skills,
education, and access to technologies, tools and productive assets. Moreover,
rural women are often burdened with household routine and care for the family
almost all year round (NAPE, 2012)
Flower production and marketing
play a leading role in creating jobs, mostly for female workers who account for
over seventy five percent of the total employment in the agricultural sector
(Ute, 2013; Dolan et al., 2003)
Studies conducted in developing
countries suggest that cut flower industries have a range of social and
economic implications, especially on livelihood of rural women (Dolan et al., 2003, Hale and Opondo, 2005,
Taylor, 2010, Ute, 2013). Moreover, findings from gender analysis showed that
in spite of increasing number of women participation in paid jobs, majority
still remain in temporary, low skilled and low paid positions and face problems
of inequality (Dolan, et al., 2003,
Ute, 2013). Scholars asserted that such challenges might be rooted in the
domestic gender relations and socio-cultural norms that have shaped working
conditions in globalized systems of production such as flower industries (Wick
2010, Tanya and Olga, 2007).
Agriculture is central to
women’s livelihoods, especially in Africa. Climatic stresses on agricultural
production will make women particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. (NEST,
2011) Therefore, empowering women and young girls through flower production
enterprise is not just necessary for their well-being, but also a means to
broaden agricultural development and food security, in this era of economic
recession. Studies show that, if women farmers, especially those in flower
production enterprise, were given the same access to resources (such as land,
finance and technology) as men, their agricultural yields could increase by 20
to 30 percent; national agricultural output could rise by 2.5 to 4 percent; and
the number of malnourished people could be reduced by 12 to 17 percent. (Barrientos
et al., 2004). This study therefore
aims to survey the impact of floriculture development on livelihood of rural
women in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State especially in the face of threatened ailing
economy.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Women face numerous
obstacles to access productive inputs, assets and services; such as land,
water, labor, unpaid wage, financial dependency on household heads and gender
inequality. These obstacles not only heighten their vulnerability to food
insecurity, but also considerably reduce their contribution to overall
agricultural production. Women in general are regarded as weaker in nature when
compared to men, these no doubt weighs them down in the aspect of health,
safety and agility as rural women are mostly disadvantaged due to illiteracy,
lack of exposure, technical no how as well as environmental impact of climate
change, which affects mostly women in third world country. However, these
problems confronting rural women are risk factors as those in flower production
are not left out as they form the basis for the case study.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Floriculture is a branch
of horticulture which employs cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants for
cut-flowers and greenery. It is a competitive and technical business that
requires knowledge, skills and large amount of capital. The successful grower must
be highly trained, skilled entrepreneur, and proper understanding of this
practice is seen as the first step in florist industry to organize how to
provide a wide delivery of flowers within and outside the locality. These
networks also link the florist with several broad associations which provide
technical information and trade channels.Floriculture has remained virtually
untapped in the study area despite its huge socio-economic importance in the
environment. Information on the status of cut flowers firms, perception of
self-employment, challenges and relationship between the types of flowers grown
and income revenue of the rural women becomes imperative as to investigate the
effects of floriculture development in the study area.
1.4
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research unveils the
impact of floriculture development on the livelihood of rural women in Ikwuano
Local Government of Abia State and thus suggests solutions to existing problems
encountered. It also encourages concerned bodies, NGOs, farm owners to be more
conscious of the issues raised in the study.
1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Lack of transparency for
all the large flower farms that were visited, management refused to give the
researcher any information regarding their work; neither would they allow their
workers to freely participate in interviews. Data availability, analysis,
obtaining important inputs and the required materials from floriculture
industry owners and financial issues were also the limitation of the study.
Moreover, the constraint of finance hindered the study. In some ways, these
problems are obstacles to assess and analyze the existing situation and to
propose planning and design solutions.
1.6 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was
to investigate the effect of floriculture development on the livelihood of
rural women in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State, Nigeria. The research has the
following objectives:
1.
To assess and document the status of flower wreaths
and garlands in the study area;
2.
To evaluate the impacts of flower firms on the
livelihood of rural women in the area;
3.
To identify challenges faced by rural women during
flower production in the area;
4.
To determine the relationship between the types of
flowers grown and the income revenue of the people.
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