Abstract:
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 asiii
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.
