Gender Inequality, Processes of Adaptation, and Female Local Initiatives in Cash Crop Production in Northern Tanzania

Abstract

This article contributes to development research, as well as research studying inequality in agricultural systems. We use empirical data from an ethnographic study in the village of Mamba, in northern Tanzania (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009). This study analyzes the question of changing gender relations and the patriarchal constraints to collective action under market liberalization of cash crops. Our findings demonstrate that the shift to a market economy has influenced the nature of production relations, deepening inequalities in gender relations and the position of women. However, some women circumvent their disadvantaged situations through their association with various types of collective action groups or networks. In order to investigate the different impacts on women's lives, we analyze women's interest and motivations for these collective actions. We also identify the processes of adaptation to the new production relations through the coffee trade network and tomato cultivation groups, two local initiatives. We analyze the differences between these two forms of collective action and theorize on their different impacts on women's empowerment.

Are women neglected in the EU agriculture? Evidence from Lithuanian young farmers

“…The vulnerability of women’s agricultural income, compared to men’s, is stressed by Mukhopadhyay (2018) attributing this phenomenon to the influence of social norms and amplified by agricultural trade liberalization. The division of labor attributing low value added agricultural jobs to women and high value added to men is seen as a main factor in a wage gap, though unlikely be challenged due to prevailing patriarchy thinking in rural regions ( Manzanera‐Ruiz et al, 2016 ). Gupta et al (2017) documented that women tend to increase market orientation of farms, thus allowing receiving fairer price for their production.…”

Factors affecting smallholder adoption of adaptation and coping measures to deal with rainfall variability

“…Also in terms of farm work, the responsibilities of men and women differ. Men have a larger responsibility of cash crops, large livestock, long-term trees and land, while women are left to ensure food on the table from food crops and small livestock such as poultry (Manzanera-Ruiz et al, 2016). However, there is a close link between social and human capitals in terms of knowledge and information since women in sub-Saharan Africa in most cases have lower education, less access to extension and advisory services, networks and decision making bodies within the community (Farnworth & Colverson, 2015).…”

Participation in and Gains from Traditional Vegetable Value Chains: a Gendered Analysis of Perceptions of Labour, Income and Expenditure in Producers’ and Traders’ Households

“…Although men's dominance in commercial crop cultivation is documented for some locations, women may have opportunities to individually or collectively produce for cash. This is frequently framed by gender struggles concerning income control (Mnimbo et al 2017;Manzanera-Ruiz et al 2016). With regard to the value chains investigated in this work, Fischer et al (2017) described women farmers as proponents of market-oriented leafy vegetable production.…”

“…Palacios-Lopez et al (2017, p. 57) found that the share of women's labour in agriculture is above 50% for all crops except fruits and vegetables, where the share is 45%. Others argue that women spend more time on childcare and domestic chores as compared with men, and therefore have fewer opportunities to allocate time to productive and income-generating activities (Manzanera-Ruiz et al 2016;Fox 2016). Apart from time, access to land, credit and extension are important prerequisites for value chain participation.…”