Response of Women Farmers' Savings Supply to Interest Rate and Non-Price Determinants in Abia State, Nigeria: The Implications for Rural Women Productivity

The study of response of women farmers' savings, supply to interest rate and non-price determinant in Abia State, Nigeria, was carried out. A Multi-Stage random sampling technique was used to select respondents. Primary and secondary data were analysed using descriptive statistics 9 t,est of dif.ferences between means, regression analysis, chow 'irest and beta-coefficient test. The major findings were that women save more in informal financial institutions that formal institutions, It was also found that non-price determinants affects savings more than interest rate factor Specifically, the major determinants of savings were level of education, dependency ratio, farm income, total consumption, proximition to informal financial institut ion and farm size .The recommendations, among others things, were at women oriented informal aavings institutions should be encouraged because women felt at home with such financial institutions in mobilizing savings, since non-price factors affects savings more than interest rate, much effort should be channelled iato ability to save than interest rates, government should force the commercial banks to establish their banks in rural areas and give special concession to women savers.