WOMEN INVOLVEMENT IN STONE QUARRYING ACTIVITIES IN JALINGO, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The debate as to whether women provide a bulk of unpaid care and domestic work is not in doubt but the fact that they contribute largely to informal economy is underreported. Mining activities help to generate fund for those involved in it especially now that an almost permanent increase in poverty has compelled people to seek alternative liveihoods. The aim of this study is to investigate the involvement of women in quarrying activities in Jalingo, Taraba state, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to arrive at 186 respondents out of about 400 women involved in the quarrying industry, which takes place in four different wards in jalingo loal government area. A structured questionnaire was the instrument of data collection. All the questionnaires administered were accurately filled in and returned. The results indicated about 43% of respondents fall between the ages of 36-45 years and only about 5% falling between of 26 years and below. It was also discovered that about 51% of respondents earn between N2000 to N4000 of Nigeria currency daily while about 20% of respondents earn N5000 and above daily. The result also shows that there is no significant relationship between local quarry and women livelihood in Jalingo but there existed statistically significant relationship between age and daily earnings r (184) = .546, P = .000. It was recommended that Introduction grant schemes such as survival fund for small-scale quarry operations could come together under one umbrella. This move would make banks and other financial institutions more willing to give them loans as credible and creditworthy entity; this will create better opportunities for diversification of livelihood incomes and assets that will promote positive livelihood outcomes.