Gender differences in access to extension services and major farm inputs among paddy seed growers in Rautahat...

Extension services for paddy seed farmers are essential for boosting agricultural productivity; however, significant gender gaps in access to these services exist in Nepal. This study, carried out in 2024 in Rautahat district, explored the role of gender and socio-economic characteristics in determining access to paddy seed extension services and major agricultural inputs.

A convergent parallel mixed-methods research design was used. Two hundred and sixty-five farmers were surveyed with a structured questionnaire using a multistage sampling method. Qualitative data were gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.

The results showed that gender, income, age, ethnicity, and farm type influenced access to extension services, with the logistic model explaining 41.6% of the variation. Although men had higher access to these services, women were more likely to utilize them once accessed. Education, farm size, and off-farm employment had limited influence on perceived access. The farm inputs access model accounted for 42.0% of the variation, with participation level, farm type, and ethnicity being the strongest predictors.

Perception analysis revealed that women held more positive attitudes toward extension services but faced structural and social barriers, such as fewer female extension agents, financial constraints, and limited decision-making power, which hindered their ability to make data-driven decisions.

The findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive and appropriate extension strategies to ensure equitable access for all farmers, ultimately improving access and productivity, especially for women and marginalized groups.