Gendered Analysis of Agricultural Technology Adoption and Its Welfare Effects in Kebbi State

Gender differences in agricultural technology adoption have been extensively documented globally but require context-specific analysis in Nigerian settings to inform the design of inclusive agricultural programmes. In Kebbi State, in the North West geopolitical zone, significant gender gaps in access to improved rice varieties, fertilisers, and mechanisation are hypothesised to explain persistent productivity differentials between male and female farm operators. This study conducts a gendered analysis of agricultural technology adoption and its welfare effects in Kebbi State. A stratified sample of 280 farm households disaggregated by gender of farm operator was surveyed across five local government areas. Endogenous switching regression was applied to estimate treatment effects of technology adoption on yield and household income separately for male and female farm operators, accounting for selection into adoption. Results reveal that female operators had adoption rates 38 percent lower than male operators across all three technology categories assessed. Adoption generated yield gains of 29 percent for male farmers and 33 percent for female farmers, suggesting female farmers benefit more from adoption when they access technologies. The counterfactual analysis shows that if female farmers adopted at the same rate as male farmers, their average household income would increase by N87,000 annually. Gender-specific barriers including restricted extension contact, limited credit access, and social norms governing independent decision-making were the principal adoption constraints for women. The study recommends gender-responsive agricultural extension delivery and dedicated input credit lines for female farm operators in Kebbi State. Keywords: gender, technology adoption, welfare effects, Kebbi State, switching regression