Disparities and influential factors to mens and womens involvement in freshwater aquaculture in Madagascar

Abstract

This research identifies the factors determining the individual decision to get involved in the aquaculture sector for both men and women through a case study in Madagascar. A rich body of scholarly literature shows that women play an important contribution in the aquaculture sector, particularly in South Asia and Africa. The literature shows that multiple factors, such as lack of access to assets and gender norms, hinder women's full participation. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and questionnaires in the northwestern part of Madagascar, where a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project was carried out to promote aquaculture. To reveal the difference between men's and women's involvement, the quantitative data on involvement variables were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test (U'), while hierarchical cluster analysis and random forest analysis were used to determine the factors influencing the involvement of men and women. This study confirms that men have higher involvement in aquaculture than women do. It suggests that decisionmaking power and gender norms prevalent in this region are the most influential factors that establish both men's and women's engagement in aquaculture.