Organizational Barriers Limiting Women’s Participation in Women-In-Agriculture (Wia) Programme in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria

Development literature is replete with evidence of high level of involvement of women in agricultural production and value addition activities in Nigeria. This paper highlights organizational barriers limiting women’s participation in Women-in-Agriculture (WIA) program, one of the women’s enabling agricultural program in Abia State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted in selecting one hundred and twenty women farmers studied. Simple statistical tools (frequencies and percentages) were used in data analysis. The results show that agency-related and organizational problems accounted for over 80% of the constraints limiting participation in the program. They also differ significantly from client or farmer-related problems. Considering the huge financial investments in the agricultural sector, and the Federal Government’s policy thrust on food security, the paper recommends involvement of all stakeholders who must contribute their quota towards sustainable food security in Nigeria.