Gender roles in agroforestry: a socio-economic analysis of Embu and Kirinyaga districts, Kenya
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Date
2001
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was carried out in an agroforcstry system in the Central Highlands of
Kenya (Kirinyaga and 1-mbu Districts) with the aim of investigating the gender roles
in the agroforestry system and how these affect productivity. The study specifically
looked at the characteristics of the system, the gendered division of labour, gendered
access to resources, effect of the division of labour and access to resources on
productivity and the use of collective action by women as a strategy to reduce their
workloads and increase access to resources. Participatory Rural Appraisal, Focus
Group Discussions, a cross sectional household survey and time allocation studies
were used to collect data intended to answer the objectives of the research. One-wav
analysis of variance was used to compare farms based on whether they had a male
manager, female manager or both. A Cobb-Douglas production function was used to
analyse factors affecting Total Value Product and to calculate farm technical
efficiency. Both probit and regression analysis were used to identify and assess
factors affecting male and female labour, technical efficiency and determinants of
women's ability to make decisions on tree planting. The major constraints to the
integration of trees into the farming system were found to be farmers' perceptions of
the effects of trees on crops and boundary disputes. Lack of information and seeds on
appropriate trees and shrubs were identified as a constraint Female labour was found
to contribute 60.9%, 77.7%, 68.8%, 77.4%, and 64.3% of the labour in coffee, tea.
maize, beans and potatoes respectively. In addition, they contributed 47.6% of the
labour in cattle and 93.2% of the labour for all domestic activities. Farm technical
efficiency was 64%. 1 he study found no evidence of productivity differences between mule and female farm managers. Inputs and female labour were found to
increase the Total Value Product. Both male and female farm managers were found
to benefit equally from extension while female managers benefited less from
education in farming Few women were found to have access to extension, land and
credit. Collective action played an instrumental role in guaranteeing women rights
and access to resources that they would not otherwise have as individuals. Given the
importance of farm inputs in raising the value of total products, future policies
should be aimed at increasing rural farmers' access to agricultural inputs at an
affordable price as a strategy to increase agricultural production. The study
recommends the development of more labour saving productivity enhancing
technologies and the promotion of agroforestry technologies that will increase soil
fertility and make use of available planting niches while at the same time offering
other services to farmers such as fodder.
The study also recommends the
understanding of the gender division of labour and access to resources in any
farming system before any new technologies or crop varieties are introduced into that
system.
Description
PhD-Thesis
Keywords
Socio-economic analysis, Embu - Kirinyaga Districts, Kenya, Agroforestry system