Participation in and Gains from Traditional Vegetable Value Chains: a Gendered Analysis of Perceptions of Labour, Income and Expenditure in Producers’ and Traders’ Households (original) (raw)
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MAPPING OF GENDER ROLES AND RELATIONS ALONG ONION VALUE CHAIN IN NORTHERN TANZANIA
2013
participation in value chain activities. But many value chain programmes are commonly designed and implemented without taking into consideration gender roles and relations. This study analysed onion value chain to determine its impact on gender roles, relations and distribution of income in the chain. The study adopted a mixed-methods design where focus group discussions, key informant interviews and household survey which were the main methods for data collection.
Gender inequalities are said to be a stumbling block to development efforts. Conversely inequalities are reported in many agricultural value chains. Therefore, understanding of gender participation differences within Sunflower Value Chain (SVC) is important in promoting sustainable and equitable opportunities in the agricultural value chain. This study was set to map the sunflower value chain and analyse the levels and determinants of gender participation along the chain. A cross-sectional research design was adopted and the combination of systematic and random sampling techniques was used to select 132 respondents. The questionnaire and checklist of questions for key informants’ interviews were the main instruments used for data collection. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to compute the characteristics and distribution of respondents. Conventional mapping was used to map SVC based on flow of products along the chain, and content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data collected from key informants’ interviews. The study found that gender inequalities exist in the SVC nodes in Mvomero District. The differences are attributable to differences in power relations with regard to access to and control over resources between women and men. The most lucrative nodes such as processing and marketing were dominated by men while women dominated less paying activities such as bird scaring and winnowing. Ordinal logistic regression was used to establish the determinants of participation in the SVC. Findings revealed more male than female farmers were categorized in the medium level of participation. Furthermore, the ordinal regression model revealed that the smallholder farmers’ levels of participation in SVC among males were significant and negatively influenced by land ownership at (P<0.05). Therefore, the study recommends to government, non-governmental organizations and gender activists to continue advocating for the mainstreaming gender along the SVC to ensure more women participation. The intervention such as strengthening rural women’s organizations and networks, increasing women’s knowledge of agriculture into programmes and projects to ensure gender equity and equality among the actors in the chain so that women and men benefit equally due to their engagement in the SVC. Furthermore, sunflower stakeholders such as government and non-governmental organizations should assist farmers to overcome factors such as means of land acquisition, farming experience and access to market information which negatively affect their levels of participation and benefit in the sunflower value chain.
Journal of Rural Studies, 2017
In developing economies, well-functioning markets are known to provide the poor with avenues for wealth creation. Using a value chain approach, this paper aims at examining bottlenecks to and opportunities for different categories of women to participate in markets for high value agricultural commodities, with a view to identifying feasible upgrading strategies for the different categories. The findings are based on a case study of Kenya's avocado value chain, which depicts export and domestic market orientation. The data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and household surveys. The results suggest that in the more commercialized and well developed chains like that of export, upgrading strategies vary for the different typologies of women. While women in female headed households may require limited efforts such as tailoring financial products to their needs or providing interlinked services coupled with prompt payment for their produce to allow them to produce quality fruits and access lucrative markets, women in male headed households need institutionalization of gender-sensitive policies in the governance of producer groups to enable them to upgrade as chain integrators and chain owners. In the less commercialized domestic chain, limited efforts may be required to upgrade women along the chain, but the need to change from the less marketable local variety to exotic variety is likely to alter women's position, thereby calling for the need to institutionalize gender-sensitive policies in the governance of existing organized groups and use the groups as a platform to introduce the new variety.
Women Empowerment in Agricultural Value Chains: Voices from Onion Growers in Northern Tanzania
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2012
Women empowerment is multifaceted concept; there are many definitions and perceptions that are used by programmes and projects espousing to empower women. This study, using qualitative data sought to assess women perception on empowerment among those involved in onion value chain development activities. The study adopted cross sectional research design where focus group discussions, key informant interviews and case studies were the main methods for data collection. Content analysis with constant comparison technique was used to analyse the data. The study found that women empowerment is linked to different achievement in their lives in their social and economic contexts such as increases in income, confidence to speak in public, awareness of their rights and participation in decision making at the household and community levels. Men's attitude and behaviours such as reluctantancy to accept changes suggested by women and control over income accrued from their activities are among the barrier for women empowerment. The study recommends for use of gender sensitive approaches in designing and implementing development programmes on women empowerment. Men and tribal leaders should be involved in women empowerment initiatives in order to change their mindset towards women empowerment.
Gender disparity is a phenomenon that rises above most of the world's societies, religions, countries and wage gatherings. In many social orders, the distinctions and disparities are show in the obligations each are relegated, in the exercises they embrace, in their entrance to and control over assets and in basic leadership openings. This study examined to gender inequalities in women's land use in Agricultural Value Chains in Ainabkoi Sub County, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study was guided by Sen's Entitlement Theory. The study adopted mixed research design. Descriptive research methodology was used to design data collection instruments. The researchers used questionnaire, interview schedule guide, focus group discussion and document analysis to collect data. A sample of 153 was drawn from a population of 1,224 using random and purposive sampling. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Packages of Social Sciences generating descriptive statistics which included percentages, mean and standard deviation. Qualitative data was analyzed by highlighting significant statements and coming up with themes which were used to develop descriptions of the participant experiences and descriptions of the context or settings that influence the experience. These descriptions were unified into structural and textural description giving a unified descriptive account of the quantitative data. The findings showed that gender inequalities were prevalent in land use, financial use and access to extension services among men and women that affect Agricultural Value Chains. The findings of this study will be useful to policy makers in formulating policies that will ensure gender equity in Agricultural Value Chains. The researchers recommend that service providers should foster equitable participation, recognize these gender inequalities as well as activities that meet the needs of both gender with considerations to the customary will. Practitioners should adopt effective communication channels to offer agricultural information. Further studies are required in other counties in this area to determine the inequalities in Agricultural land use and the best way to address them to enable women farmers participate in Agricultural Value Chains.
International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology
This study aimed at Analyzing gender disaggregated vegetables value chain in Yayu and Hurumu districts of Illuababora zone, south west Ethiopia with specific objectives of examining the role of men and women in the vegetables value chain and assessing distribution of benefit among actors in vegetable value chain. The primary data for this study were collected from 117 cabbage and onion farmers, 37 traders and 31 consumers through appropriate statistical procedures. The study shows that both men and women are involved in vegetables production and marketing activities through 88% of the marketing of vegetables were done by women. The value chain analysis reveals that the major actors in the districts are input problem and lack of government support as the major problems. The reason could be low production habit and small land allocation for vegetables and institutional weakness. Average shares of profit of local collectors, wholesalers and retailers were 29.3%, 42.5% and 12.7% and 23.5%,34%, 10.1% in male and female actors, respectively, from the sales of one kilogram cabbage. This reveals that wholesalers benefited more than other actors. Average shares of profit of wholesalers and retailers were 18.8% and 29.6% and 18.2%, 28.6% in male and female actors, respectively, from the sales of one kilogram onion. This asserts that retailers benefit more than other actors. Therefore, policy aiming at improving actors access to improved extension service and empower women to enhance vegetable value chain in study area is crucial empower women to enhance vegetable value chain in study area is crucial.
MAINSTREAMING GENDER ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE VALUE CHAIN
review paper, 2023
There is an emerging consensus that promoting gender justice in value chain development is not only a rights issue for women, but makes 'business sense' for households, enterprises, and ultimately the national economy. This paper discusses experiences in mainstreaming gender issues in agricultural value chain with producers and traders of agricultural produce. This value chain development methodology has brought about profound changes for significant numbers of people in a relatively short period of time, on sensitive and potentially contextual issues such as gender-based violence and land ownership as well as decision-making, division of labour, and women's access to health and education. These changes have taken place with the full support of many men who have become enthusiastic promoters of gender equality as part of their own vision of happiness and social justice. Addressing gender inequalities at all levels of the chain forms a 'win-win strategy' which has increased incomes and contributed to upgrading whole value chains and developing the local economy
2020
Sunflower value chain represents one among the valuable vegetable oil subsectors worldwide. However, some constrains limit smallholder farmers to effectively participate in the value chain activities in order to generate household incomes and improve their livelihoods. Therefore, the study examined the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers' participation in sunflower value chain whereby a cross sectional research design and mixed methods approach laid the framework for collection and analysis of data. Data was sourced from 368 smallholder farmers selected by using a systematic sampling technique. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used for qualitative data collection while household survey questionnaire for quantitative data. Constant comparison technique was used to analyse qualitative data and binary logistic regression for quantitative data. Findings indicate that socioeconomic factors including age, education level and possession of agriculture tools significantly (p < 0.05) influenced participation in sunflower value chain. The study concluded that socioeconomic factors collectively other than singlehandedly have a significant influence towards participation in value chain. Since some findings had indications that males dominate productive resources unevenly, it is recommended that gender sensitive approaches should be used to circumvent the biased practices in order to increase participation in sunflower value chain activities.
2020
Although agriculture and forestry sector provides employment to almost two thirds of households, the commercialisation of farming is in its rudimentary stage in Nepal. On the other hand, 28.6 per cent of Nepal’s population is multi-dimensionally poor and 48 per cent households are food insecure. Given that women’s workload and responsibility in the household is significant, promoting economic opportunities for them can make a big difference in the household livelihood and food security. This research investigated the effectiveness of local value chain process in commercialisation of vegetables among targeted women producers in Kailali district of Nepal, towards improved livelihoods and food security. With post-positivism paradigm, this research capitalised QUAN-qual methodology. Based on comparative performance data of 1,469 women producers engaged in vegetable farming, there has been almost three times increase in production of commodity and 78 per cent increase in average revenue ...