Abstract:
It is argued that gender roles and relations determine distribution of benefits accrued from ones’
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.
Evolution in gender roles especially in production activities was found. Women participation in
onion value chain activities, leadership in farmers’ organisation and in decision making over the
income accrued from onion production was found to increase following interventions to develop
the onion value chain. However, their participation in marketing of onion is constrained by many
factors, including limitation on movement placed by their husbands or male partners. This study
recommends to government and non-governmental organisations using value chain intervention to
address gender roles and relation in value chain development activities to facilitate equitable
access by rural producers’ men and women to agricultural inputs as and facilitate access to market
of their crops and products. Gender sensitive intervention strategies should be used in forming and
strengthening farmer organizations to competitively participate in onion value chain and increase
women participation and benefit from onion production.
