Differences in Crop Selection, Resource Constraints, and Crop Use Values Among Female- and Male-headed Smallholder Households in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

Reynolds, Travis; Tobin, Daniel; Otieno, Gloria; McCracken, Aidan; Guo, Junru

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2020.094.011

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The findings reveal that most of the households in Kenya and Tanzania were maleheaded, which is comparable to other studies [50,51]. The number of male-headed household in Kenya was also found to be significantly higher than in Tanzania.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Previous studies have revealed that male-headed households tend to be faster at adopting certain agroecological strategies [52], while female households lagged in the adoption of modern practices [53]. Reynolds et al, however, found that female-headed households were more likely to plant diverse crops per hectare [50]. There is, therefore, a need for gender-sensitive policies and interventions that could promote equal access to productive resources in the agriculture sector, particularly in TAV and crucifer production systems [54].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding the Use of Agroecological-Based Pest Management Practices in Crucifers and Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) Production in Kenya and Tanzania

Kirui,

Kidoido,

Mutyambai

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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Crucifers and traditional African vegetables (TAVs) are important to smallholders in Kenya and Tanzania, but yield remains below potential due to pests and diseases. Agroecological production methods present a nature-based solution to pest and disease management in crucifer and TAV production. We explore the status of farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding agroecological-based production pest management practices. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect data from 1071 vegetable farming households in Kenya and Tanzania. Using descriptive statistics, parametric, and non-parametric analysis, our study revealed that less than 20% of farmers had received training on agroecological-based practices and less than 25% were aware of most of these practices. Among those who were aware of the practices and could confirm their effectiveness less than 12% had adopted them, except for crop rotation and handpicking of pests. This study attributes the low adoption to farmers’ negative attitudes towards the practices. Nonetheless, the study further revealed that training significantly and positively influences the adoption of the practices. Therefore, we recommend that governments and other stakeholders promote targeted awareness campaigns and increase access to training on vegetable production using sustainable pest and disease management practices.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding the Use of Agroecological-Based Pest Management Practices in Crucifers and Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) Production in Kenya and Tanzania

Kirui,

Kidoido,

Mutyambai

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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show abstract

“…The type of household-whether it is male-headed, or female-headed also impacts how the household organizes itself [14]. Men and women in male-headed households might have different preferences, particularly compared with women in female headed households [24]. Understanding gender dynamics is thus important for identifying direct users of interventions (who is considered responsible for the different tasks, making investments and doing the work), and for determining who might benefit or lose from them [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Gender and Institutional Dynamics in Adapting Seed Systems to Climate Change: Case Studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

et al. 2021

Self Cite

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We explore how seed systems enhance access to seeds, and information for climate-change adaptation in farming communities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as how gender-driven roles and institutional dynamics influence the process. Men and women farmers equally experience climate-change related effects, including drought, short rainy seasons and increased pest and disease incidence. Our study relies on exploratory data analysis of 1001 households surveyed in four sites in 2016. Farmers surveyed preferred early-maturing, heat-tolerant, high-yielding, and pest- and disease-resistant varieties, all important climate-adaptive traits. Seed systems of the focus crops studied are largely informal—overall, 68% women and 62% men use their own seed, indicating women’s higher reliance on ‘informal’ seed and information sources. Only 21% of respondents reported interacting with seed experts who are affiliated with formal organizations. Both formal and informal organizations play a key role in providing access to climate-adapted seed/information, with access for men and women varying across the countries studied. There is a need to support further development of those connections, building on existing social networks. We conclude that inclusive and gender-responsive context- and country-specific seed interventions will ensure equitable outcomes, increase women’s empowerment and strengthen both formal and informal seed systems for more effective climate-change adaptation.

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Market engagement, crop diversity, dietary diversity, and food security: evidence from small-scale agricultural households in Uganda

Morrissey,

Reynolds,

Tobin

et al. 2023

Food Sec.

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Small-scale farmers make up the majority of farmers worldwide yet experience particularly high rates of food insecurity. A growing body of literature explores pathways to food and nutrition security among small-scale farmers but has yet to reach consensus on the most effective pathways (e.g., crop specialization for market sale versus on-farm crop diversification for home consumption) to improve livelihoods. Using structural equation modelling (SEM) based on data drawn from the 2015/16 Uganda National Panel Survey, this study considers how farm and household characteristics including gender, age, education, farm size, region, and off-farm income relate to market engagement (farm sales, market purchases) and on-farm crop diversity (Simpson’s diversity). We then further examine how market engagement and on-farm crop diversity relate to household livelihood outcomes including dietary diversity and food security (number of food secure months). Findings suggest that both higher levels of market engagement and on-farm crop diversity are associated with increased dietary diversity. Higher levels of crop diversity—whether for market sale or for self-consumption—are strongly associated with improved food security. Market engagement is positively associated with increased dietary diversity, and this association is particularly strong for market purchases. Together, these findings highlight the potential for both market-based strategies and on-farm crop diversity to contribute to food security goals in Uganda, providing further evidence that these strategies can be complementary.

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Differences in Crop Selection, Resource Constraints, and Crop Use Values Among Female- and Male-headed Smallholder Households in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding the Use of Agroecological-Based Pest Management Practices in Crucifers and Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) Production in Kenya and Tanzania

Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding the Use of Agroecological-Based Pest Management Practices in Crucifers and Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) Production in Kenya and Tanzania

The Role of Gender and Institutional Dynamics in Adapting Seed Systems to Climate Change: Case Studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

Market engagement, crop diversity, dietary diversity, and food security: evidence from small-scale agricultural households in Uganda

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