The study determined the consumption patterns and intra-household roles in the production,
processing and marketing of soyabeans in the Northern Agricultural Zone of Benue State, Nigeria. A
structured interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of 80 randomly selected
respondents from ten extension blocks. Findings indicated that majority (71.3%) of the households
prepared their soyabeans farm manually while family and hired labour (66.3%) were the major sources
of labour. Sixty per cent of the respondents grew sole soyabeans on their farm. Majority (75%) of the
respondents grew improved varieties of soyabeans and majority (97.5%) of the respondents also used
planting methods recommended by the Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority.
More than half of the respondents consumed soyabeans on daily basis mostly in form of paste. Adult
males played major roles in acquisition of land, site selection, purchasing of fertilizers and herbicides
as well as agro-chemical application. Adult males, females and children were more involved in land
preparation, weeding and harvesting of soyabeans. The study further showed that the serious
constraints experienced by farmers in soyabeans production, processing and marketing include high
cost of hiring tractors, high cost of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals and lack of finance. This study
recommended the provision of institutional loans and credit facilities to encourage farmers to produce
more soyabeans.