Abstract:

The growth rate of the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP at 1990 constant basic prices grew from 4.2 percent in 2002 to 7.2 percent in 2006. The contribution of women to labour in African agriculture is quoted regularly in the range of 60–80%. Using available statistical data, to compare the level of employment and productivity of both male and female on an individual basis, and consequently proffer ways of improve that with a lower turn-out is the one major aim of the study. The contribution of females in the agricultural sector is substantially lower in Nigeria (37%), and some other developing countries. In order to get appropriate estimation of the model, the propensity score matching technique was used to estimate the effect of access to healthcare interacting with education on female agricultural productivity. The result informs the need to enhance the employment of female in the Nigerian economy for higher agricultural productivity. Therefore the study suggests that policies geared towards female empowerment in agriculture and services alongside other concerned sectors should be promoted.