Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

There are distinct gender divisions within the economic and livelihood roles
of men and women in the area. Men are generally responsible for heavy
work, including cutting and clearing of trees, whereas women are more likely
to tend plots of land, including harvesting of fruits and vegetables. Women
are also more likely to be involved in other informal sector activities, such as
small scale trading and cassava processing. There are also occasionally gender
divisions among crops: for example, in Edo State, yams are viewed as a ‘man’s
crop’ and women are not allowed to plant or harvest them.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary livelihood activity across the study area, although
it has reportedly declined somewhat due to reduced land available for
cultivation. Major crops include yam, cassava, maize, plantain, banana and
coco yam (NIPP, 2010). The most important plantation crops in the area are
rubber and cocoa, which have both local and international markets. Melon,
okra, peppers and other crops are planted in smaller quantities in gardens
close to the communities.
The following table presents the seasonal calendar of agricultural activities in
the area which corresponds with the four weather seasons (NIPP, 2010):
Table 5.3
Seasonal Calendar
Month Season Activity
December Long dry season Nothing on the farm. Resting period.
with few days of
January rain
Land clearing, planting of cocoyam, weeding of
cassava farm.
February
Land clearing for the raining season farm,
harvesting of cassava and processing of cassava
March
Bush burning, weeding of cassava farm,
planting of vegetable at the stream side,
planting of yam and plantain.
April
Long wet season,
with rain 20-24
days per month
Planting of cassava, corn, cocoyam, plantain
and pepper, planting of yam, plantain and
pineapple.
May
June
Weeding of farm land, harvesting of vegetables.
Harvesting of corn, harvesting of cassava.
July
Harvesting of corn continue, also harvesting of
cassava planted the previous year.
August
Short dry season
with fewer days
of rain
Weeding of farm plots and selling of farm
produce; planting of maize.
September
Short wet season,
with as much or
Harvesting of cassava and planting of cassava.
AZURA EDO IPP
5-20
DRAFT EIA REPORT