Gender Participation and Decision Making in Crop Management in Great Lakes Region of Central Africa

Ochieng, Justus; Ouma, Emily A.; Birachi, Eliud Abucheli

doi:10.1177/0971852414544007

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Intra-household decision-making power is associated with the bargaining power of a given household member and this power is dependent on a number of complex factors including the access to agricultural land and inputs, training and financial loans through formal and informal credit institutions [20]. This, however, cannot be disentangled from gender, because women's differential and disadvantaged access to these resources and services as compared to men's is thoroughly documented throughout the world and specifically for smallholder farm households in developing countries [21][22][23][24][25]. [26] even suggest that because of very unequal gender norms on an institutional or collective level, women's individual increased access or ownership of resources and assets might decrease their intrahousehold decision-making and bargaining power.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of women in production and management of RTB crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do men decide, and women work?

Okonya¹,

Mudege²,

Rietveld³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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This paper evaluates the determinants of decision making in relation to the production of four crops (banana, cassava, potato and sweet potato). Understanding the division of labour and decision-making in crop management may lead to designing better interventions targeted at improving efficiency in smallholder agriculture. A household quantitative survey with heads of households involving 261 women and 144 men in Burundi and 184 women and 222 men in Rwanda was conducted in 2014. Most of the decisions and labour provision during production of both cash crops (potato and banana) and food crops (sweet potato and cassava) were done jointly by men and women in male-headed households. Higher values for ‘credit access’, ‘land size’ and ‘farming as the main occupation of the household head’ increased the frequency of joint decision-making in male-headed households. A decline in the amount of farm income reduced the participation of men as decision makers. A reduction in total household income and proximity to the market was correlated with joint decision making. Gender norms also contributed to the lower participation of women in both decision-making and labour provision in banana and potato cultivation. Although a large proportion of decisions were made jointly, women perceived that men participate more in decision-making processes within the household during the production of cash crops. Increased participation by women in decision-making will require an active and practical strategy which can encourage adjustments to existing traditional gender norms that recognise men as the main decision-makers at both the household and community levels.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of women in production and management of RTB crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do men decide, and women work?

Okonya¹,

Mudege²,

Rietveld³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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show abstract

“…material, while women are mostly involved in secondary activities such as weeding, harvesting, transportation and processing of banana. Ochieng et al (2014) observed that despite the existence of gender neutrality for both banana cultivation and harvesting in parts of eastern DR Congo, banana cultivation was mainly male dominated while women mainly dominated in the production of annual crops such as sweet potato, cassava, beans, groundnuts, peas and soybeans. Ochieng et al (2014) also reported male dominance in farm decision making in this region despite the dominance of women in agricultural activities.…”

Section: Farming System Appliedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ochieng et al (2014) observed that despite the existence of gender neutrality for both banana cultivation and harvesting in parts of eastern DR Congo, banana cultivation was mainly male dominated while women mainly dominated in the production of annual crops such as sweet potato, cassava, beans, groundnuts, peas and soybeans. Ochieng et al (2014) also reported male dominance in farm decision making in this region despite the dominance of women in agricultural activities. Similarly, Enete and Amusa (2010) reported male dominance in farm decision making functions in Nigeria even where women are the largest providers of farm labor.…”

Section: Farming System Appliedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of cultural practices used in banana plantations and possibilities for fine-tuning: Case of North Kivu and Ituri provinces, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Sivirihauma¹,

Ocimati²,

Valimuzigha³

et al. 2017

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Diverse cultural practices have been communicated to and/or applied by resource-poor households over the past two decades to improve the overall farm health and crop tolerance to biotic/abiotic factors. This study assessed the current diversity and use of cultural practices on banana fields in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Interview schedules coupled with farm diagnosis were used to take stock of cultural practices. Farmers' choice of banana cultivars was mainly influenced by bunch size, demand/price, pulp flavor/taste, and juice quality. Availability of planting materials and the lifespan of mats were also important. In contrast, drought tolerance, soil fertility conditions, length of production cycle, and pest and disease resistance were not highly considered. Suckers were the predominant type of planting material used. Banana-bean (in 15 to 39% of farms) and banana-taro-bean (18 to 30%) were the dominant intercrops. Staking of banana plants with bunches was applied by 94 to 95% of the respondents, possibly due to the perceived immediate benefits from bunches. Cutting of green leaves to among other things improve sunlight penetration for legume intercrops which was practiced by 74 to 85% of the farmers. This practice has greatly contributed to the perpetuation of banana Xanthomonas wilt disease (XW) in the region. Male bud removal was applied in 55 to 66% of farms to control XW and improve bunch size. However, 38 to 51% of these farmers de-budded after the recommended time. Other common cultural practices included de-suckering, pseudostem use for mulch and weeding. Strategies for safe application of some of the practices such as weeding, leaf cutting, de-trashing and in light of diseases such as XW are recommended. In addition, some practices such as mulching and male bud removal are knowledge intensive, while others such de-suckering have no immediate perceived benefits to farmers, thus the need to strengthen knowledge extension to enhance their adoption.

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“…In general, they work without pay on family farms, while a minority practice as small traders in vegetables, fruits and other foodstuffs (African Development Bank, 2011). Moreover, according to the report of the Beijing Action Program in Burundi (Republic of Burundi, 2014), women comprise the main agricultural labor force (107 women against 100 men in the active rural population) and the principal economic providers for the family (Ochieng, Ouma, & Birachi, 2014;Republic of Burundi, 2014).…”

Section: Women In Burundimentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Microcredit Changing Women's Role? An Exploratory Study from Rural Burundi

Varela¹,

Daou²,

Tessier³

et al. 2016

IJGWS

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Although microcredit programs are used in many developing countries, the evidence on the effects of microcredit on women, documented in several studies, is still contradictory. One example of this lack of congruence is the impact on domestic violence. Several studies show that the financial empowerment of women is a risk factor for domestic violence while others affirm its role as a protective factor. Our research aims to explore the economic and social effects of the Nawe Nuze microcredit groups in Burundi. We seek to explore the effects of microcredit on women's role. A mixed methodology has been used. An interesting aspect of this study is that we take into account the perceptions and discourses of men (husbands) relative to the role of women in Burundi and, in the Nawe Nuze microcredit groups. We found that, although the economic effect is the most visible, a positive social effect on the woman's role in the household and on the couple's relationship is evidenced. Furthermore, we found that participation of women in microcredit groups has no observable effect on intimate partner violence. We, therefore, believe these results advance research and can usefully assist policy makers and practitioners in establishing microcredit programs for women.

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Gender Participation and Decision Making in Crop Management in Great Lakes Region of Central Africa

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

The role of women in production and management of RTB crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do men decide, and women work?

The role of women in production and management of RTB crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do men decide, and women work?

Diversity of cultural practices used in banana plantations and possibilities for fine-tuning: Case of North Kivu and Ituri provinces, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Is Microcredit Changing Women's Role? An Exploratory Study from Rural Burundi

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