Market Women Environment, Governance and Food Safety Practices in Ibadan, Nigeria

In Ibadan, Nigeria, awareness, disposition, practices and ethno cultural factors associated with environment, governance and food safety practices among market women as in other developing countries were in astronomical decrease. Low level of awareness on environment and food safety practices in recent times and their poor access to environmental information had some inherent problems in Ibadan North Local Government Area. A cross sectional study design was adopted. Assessment of key environmental indicators, market governance and food safety. The study consisted of data collection with the use of questionnaire and key informant interviews. About 57.3% of the respondents indicated sachet water as their source of water supply. When the respondents are pressed and need to use the toilet 43.3% make use of the market toilets. 18.7% of the market women prefer to give their food wastes to goat and chickens to feed on. In all the market studied, market governance was largely left in the hands of men, despite the fact that women population in the market are very predominant. The study concluded that market environment needs to be improved on, food safety and handling regulated. Market governance is left in the hands of men who are always minority in the markets