Drive towards women empowerment is gaining
momentum in recent years. Despite the obvious success recorded
among women generally, the case of rural women farmers in
particular remains controversial. Some studies have reported
increase in women’s access to agricultural productive resources
such as land, farm technologies and credit facilities. But the
extent to which women continue to engage in farm labour
remains scarcely studied. Understanding the current degree to
which women engage in farm labour is important for the future
of women empowerment and food security. This study was
conducted among Esan rural women farmers in Edo State,
Nigeria. The sample size consisted of 457 women and the survey
questionnaire was used to elicit responses from them on their
level of involvement in farm labour. Also, the qualitative method
of data collection involving focus group discussion was adopted.
Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics. Result
showed that women engage in every facet of food production
from the point of land preparation to distribution, although at
different degrees. The paper recommends among others, that
women empowerment efforts should be intensified among rural
women farmers to enable them contribute maximally to food
security
