ASSESSMENT OF GENDER ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS FROM COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed gender access to agricultural loans from cooperative societies in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data used were collected from 160 registered cooperative members in the study area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, binary Logit regression analysis, and mean score. Results of the findings showed that 62.9% and 54.3% of the male and female cooperative members were married with household size of 1 – 5 members. Most of the respondents were within the age bracket of 31 – 50 years. Finding on gender difference indicated that male cooperative members had more access (3.52) to loan than the female (2.88). Estimates of the binary logit model showed that the slope coefficients of household size, educational status, years of membership, and income were positive and statistically significant at 10% and 5% for the male and female cooperative members respectively. Furthermore, the major problems faced by cooperative members in accessing loans are reluctance from financial institutions (M=2.8) and fear of repayment by borrowers (M=2.7). Amongst others, comprehensive development of gender specific policy interventions by government to enhance access to loan by female cooperative members was recommended