Managing the Nigerian Rural Environment through Women Empowerment in Non-Farm Activities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State

The study was carried out to identify the types of non-farm activities engaged in by rural women in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State and the type of activity that substantially improves their income as an indicator of empowerment. Data obtained through questionnaire were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that non-farm activities engaged in by the women were mostly informal including services, trade and commerce and arts and crafts. When total mean income of the women were calculated, the income of women who were tailors had the highest percentage (11.75% compared to other non-farm opportunities. The findings of this study, showed that government should institute a well-equipped skills acquisition center with greater emphasis on tailoring (clothing and textiles) towards increasing the participation of women in high non-farm activities like tailoring which usually required acquisition of skills and the income return is high.