Farm Management Challenges Facing Female-Headed Households in Katsina State

Female-headed farming households in northern Nigeria encounter distinct structural challenges related to land tenure, labour access, and social capital that differ markedly from those facing male-headed households. In Katsina State, in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone, women who manage farms independently due to widowhood, divorce, or spousal migration face compounded disadvantages in accessing productive resources. This study examines the farm management challenges facing female-headed households in Katsina State, with a focus on land access, input procurement, extension contact, and market participation. A sample of 100 female-headed farming households was selected through snowball and purposive sampling across three local government areas. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data, while descriptive statistics were used for quantitative variables. Findings reveal that 71 percent of female respondents farmed on fragmented plots averaging 0.3 hectares, compared to a state average of 1.1 hectares. Access to formal credit was reported by only 12 percent of respondents, and over half had never received an extension agent visit in the preceding three years. Sales prices obtained by female farmers were systematically lower due to dependence on male intermediaries for market access. The study recommends targeted credit products for female-headed farming households, female-to-female extension service delivery models, and legal reinforcement of women's land rights in Katsina State. Keywords: female-headed households, farm management, gender, Katsina State, agricultural constraints