The Role of Women in Production and Management of RTB Crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do Men Decide, and Women Work?

Abstract

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 labor and decision-making in crop management may lead to designing better interventions targeted at improving efficiency in smallholder agriculture. In 2014, the research team conducted a quantitative household survey with heads of households involving 261 women and 144 men in Burundi and 184 women and 222 men in Rwanda. Most of the decisions and labor provision during the 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 labor 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 recognize men as the main decision-makers at both the household and community levels.

Challenges Faced by Congolese Women Farmers to Access Agricultural Productive Resources: A Review

“…In addition, women actively participate in farming, processing, and marketing of agricultural products to improve the food security, income, and well-being of their families, with expected positive impacts on children health and education (Medagbe et al, 2020;Moyo, 2017;Mare & Girmay, 2016;Maass et al, 2012). However, despite the key role played by women in the agricultural sector in developing countries, men continue to dominate farm decision-making functions, even in areas where women are the largest providers of farm labor (Okonya et al, 2019;Ochieng et al, 2014). Figure 2 illustrates the rate of participation of men and women in the agricultural production process where certain activities such as seeding, weeding, harvesting place women at the top position.…”

“…Gender constraints and gaps in agricultural food production are complex and not limited to unequal access to resources such as land, improved technologies, and credit (SOFA Team & Doss, 2011;Doss & Morris, 2000;Doss, 1999). They extent to other difficulties that include access to climate information (Kolawole et al, 2014), low access to agricultural and market information, and lack of political influence (Hoof, 2011;Adeniyi, 2010) as well as low participation in decision-making processes within the households when producing crops of economic interest (Okonya et al, 2019;Ochieng et al, 2014). Additionally, the interference of cultural traditions and women's restriction in decision-making processes in combination with economic constraints or/and opportunities have resulted in conflicting roles and interests between men and women in many countries when some crops that were traditionally subsistence crops and considered before to be women's crops tended to be marketable and generated cash income: e.g.…”

“…Participation of men and wen in agricultural food production (%). Graph designed by the authors using data fromBalasha et al, 2015;Balasha, 2019;Otieno, 2019;Kishor, 2007;Okonya et al, 2019;Ochieng et al, 2014.…”

A Gender Perspective on Pest and Disease Management From the Cases of Roots, Tubers and Bananas in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

“…In Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, there is frequent use of pesticides in potato farming systems to control major insect pests such as cutworms, psyllids, lygus bugs, leafminers, aphids, and armyworms (Okonya and Kroschel, 2016;Okonya et al, 2019a). A recent study (Okonya et al, 2019b) shows that men apply the chemicals in the field usually without any personal protective equipment, while women fetch the water to be used for mixing the pesticides, and also wash the clothes worn during the pesticide application. However, women are often not invited to participate in training about the safe use and handling of pesticides organized by extension workers, who are often men.…”

Economic and psychosocial factors associated with management of bacteria wilt disease in smallholder potato farms: Evidence from Kenya

“…Additionally, very little is currently known about the role of gender in these decision-making processes associated with BW management in potato. Okonya et al (2019) and Mudege et al (2020) document how gender norms and relations strongly influence potato production decision making processes. Kaguongo et al (2013) found that gender influences potato growers' use of quality seed, one of BW management strategies.…”