Socioeconomic Correlates of Women Farmers’ Access to Agricultural Extension Services in Bo and Moyamba Districts Sierra Leone

Abstract

Women make major contributions to agricultural production in Sierra Leone, yet their access to agricultural extension remains uneven. This study examined socioeconomic and institutional factors associated with women farmers’ access to extension services in Bo and Moyamba Districts. A cross-sectional survey of 496 women farmers was analysed using descriptive statistics, district comparisons, and binary logistic regression. Overall, 37.0% of respondents reported access to extension services, with a higher proportion in Bo (47.0%) than Moyamba (27.0%; p < .001). Women with access were younger, operated larger farms, earned more income, lived closer to service providers, and were more likely to belong to farmer groups, have credit and mobile-phone access, and exercise greater decision-making authority. In the adjusted model, secondary education or higher (OR = 4.87, 95% CI [2.14, 11.08]), farmer-group membership (OR = 3.86, 95% CI [2.31, 6.45]), access to credit (OR = 2.14, 95% CI [1.24, 3.69]), and mobile-phone access (OR = 2.63, 95% CI [1.54, 4.49]) were positively associated with extension access. Each additional kilometre from an extension provider (OR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.77, 0.88]) and each additional hour of daily work burden (OR = 0.84, 95% CI [0.76, 0.93]) reduced the odds of access. The findings show that extension access reflects intersecting inequalities in human capital, institutional connectivity, resources, geography, and time. Gender-responsive extension strategies should combine decentralised outreach with farmer-organisation strengthening, credit linkages, accessible communication, and flexible scheduling.