The need to expand the capacities of rural woman farmers is not negotiable within the
framework of human development as women hold the key to attaining global food security.
However, dearth o f data about rural women concerns persists in Nigeria. This paper therefore
presents the experiences of rural women in their farming occupation with empirical data from Esan
Women in Edo State, Nigeria. Their s truggle for modem farming technologies and credit facilities
are presented. A triangulation method of data collection was employed involving the use of the
s tructured, in-depth interviews and the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data were analyzed using
both quantitative and qua litative methods of data analys is. Result shows that there is a positive
relationship between women empowerment and food production, but the presence of empowetment
indicators was found to be inadequate. Specifically, the respondents were found to be grossly
defi cient in access to modem farming technologies and credit fac ili ties. The paper concludes that
Nigerian Development cannot be complete without rural women's empowerment.
Recommendations are proffered accordingl
