The Association of Women's Participation in Farmer-Based Organizations with Female and Male Empowerment and its Implication for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions in Rural Ghana

Abstract

Background Few studies have examined the influence of women's participation in farmer groups on female and male empowerment, which is considered essential to improving nutrition. Objectives The study aimed to (1) assess the empowerment of Ghanaian women farmers, one adult male family decision maker, and the household gender equality, and (2) investigate the relationship of empowerment and household gender equality with women's participation in farmer-based organizations (FBO), women's and men's nutritional status, and household food security. Methods A cross-sectional study investigated secondary outcomes using baseline data from a nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention implemented through FBOs in rural Ghana (ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03869853). Existing FBOs in eight communities were selected based on six criteria (e.g., participation level, readiness to change). Female FBO (n = 166) and non-FBO (n = 164) members together with a male family member (n = 205) provided data on individual and household characteristics; empowerment was measured across 11 indicators with the project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index. Generalized linear mixed models tested the associations between empowerment and household gender equality with FBO membership, nutritional status, and household food security. Results Women's FBO membership was associated with an increased likelihood of women's empowerment (aOR = 3.25; 95% CI [1.97, 5.33]) and household gender parity (aOR = 2.82; 95% CI [1.39, 5.84]) but not men's empowerment. Household food insecurity, but not nutritional status, was positively associated with women's FBO participation and individual empowerment indicators (financial services). Food insecurity was negatively associated with women's empowerment indicator related to attitudes about domestic violence (aβ = −0.78; 95% CI [−1.35, −0.21]) and men's overall empowerment (aβ = −0.79; 95% CI [−1.58, −0.01]). Conclusions Understanding the complexity in which FBO participation, empowerment, nutritional status, and food security are linked is critical in designing interventions that promote gender equality and improved nutrition.

Grassroots Solutions for Global Challenges: The Role of Self-Help Groups in Building Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience to Climate Change in Nyakach, Kenya

“…Connors et al (2023) observed that women's participation in SHGs is associated with a greater variety of food crops and nutrient-dense crops, suggesting that SHGrelated empowerment can enhance resilience in food systems. Additionally, studies like that of Abdu, Marquis, Colecraft, Dodoo, and Grimard (2022) in Ghana have shown that women's involvement in farmer groups not only fosters empowerment and household gender parity but also positively influences household food security. SHGs have also been recognized as a platform for capacity building in agriculture, especially for women.…”

Sustainable Socio-Economic Development of Women: A Blueprint from Vulnerability to Empowerment

“…ideally, men should also express interest in care work, but the domestic nature and general perception make it culturally unacceptable. Studies indicate the vulnerability of women is attributable to their less access to resources like inputs, extension services, and land among others where men have access to larger farmlands and are more likely to be granted financial services than women (Abdu et al, 2022). Women are faced with time constraints due to gender roles assigned and are the first to be considered unpaid family workers.…”

“…For instance, farm-based women's organizations are supported by local institutions as a productive way to attract agripreneurs in order to boost their socioeconomic development in a sustainable manner. For instance, 42% of women are represented in farm-based organizations with 4,743 registered members (Abdu et al, 2022).…”

“…The effective pathway to provide women with the necessary resources may be through community groups especially farmer-based groups in which they exercise their choices geared towards capability enhancement. Studies have shown that membership in such farmer-based groups enhances women's decision-making over properties, improves the usage of income, and grants a sense of ownership of resources (Mwambi et al, 2021;Abdu et al, 2022).…”