Browsing by Author "Mnimbo, T. S."

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A gender analysis of crop value chains in Chamwino and Kilosa Districts, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2018) Mnimbo, T. S.
Gender issues fundamentally shape the totality of production, distribution, and consumption within an economy but have often been overlooked in value chain development. The current study adopted a cross-sectional study design and was carried out in Chamwino and Kilosa districts. The study’s overall objective was to undertake a gendered analysis in investigating smallholder farmers’ participation in the crop value chains, in Chamwino and Kilosa Districts in Tanzania. Specifically, it aimed at analyzing the influence of gender roles in upgrading strategies on multiple-commodity food value chains, assessing the gendered impact on food securing upgrading strategies using different gender tools, analysing gender in asset ownership and participation in market oriented crop value chains and determining pathways of addressing gender based constrains for equitable and sustainable participation in profitable crop value chains. The selection of the study sites was based on their agro-ecological characteristics, a balance of matrilineal and patrilineal societies, levels of food crop commercialization, availability of infrastructure, and accessibility to regional thus enabling a good comparison all together. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 600 randomly selected households and complemented with focus group discussions and key informants interviews. The sampling involved purposive sampling techniques. In the analysis the influence of gender roles in upgrading strategies on multiple-commodity food value chains were computed. The findings show that crops commonly grown in the two study districts are maize (Zea mays) and sesame (Sesamum indicum) are widely grown in Kilosa, while bulrush millet and groundnut are grown in Chamwino, 50% of these crops produced are sold. The results show that in Kilosa there was no difference between men and women in relation to upgrading strategies related to natural resources, in contrast to Chamwino District where a statistical difference between male and female farmers was iii observed. The results further show that female farmers in Chamwino are more concerned about processing and storage, with more than 50% of female farmers indicating processing and storage to be a problem compared to 26% of male farmers, implying that women in Chamwino are highly involved with processing and storage tasks or are more affected by processing and storage constraints than men. A closer look at the three value chain nodes (production, processing and marketing) shows that the main constraints relate to natural resources and production. Between 76% and 95% of the respondents indicated these as leading concern, followed by processing between 20% and 53% and lastly, the marketing node between 28% and 37%. The study concludes that gender difference in the choices of crops is associated with the impact and role of the particular crop on the respective gender, for example cash crop or food crop. The study further concludes that women and youth in both regions are the ones heavily involved in the lower end of value chain components such as production, processing and storage.The study further concludes that there is a strong association between MHH and FHH asset ownership and food crop commercialization and that although asset ownership is crucial, but not all assets serve the same purpose or same importance. On removing GBC the study concludes that the intention to remove GBC in value chain is iterative since most GBC involves multiple factors, therefore it is important to identify context specific strategies to ensure that the GBC are addressed. Lastly it can be concluded that both male and female headed households are forced into food crop commercialization due to wealth situation.At the household level, men are recommended to recognize how women are burdened by the activities in the household and create a better chance for women to participate in value chain activities by allowing them to make choices on their preferred crop and to take part in the decision making. The present study further recommends the Local Government Authority and project planners to consider youth as a gender group with the potential to drive the economic development through crop commercialization. The Local Government Authority and the MHH should consider gender aspects on matters concerning land ownership because it hinders effective participation.
A gendered analysis of perception and vulnerability to climate change among smallholder farmers: the case of Same district, Tanzania
(2015-02-16) Mnimbo, T. S.; Mbwambo, J.; Kahimba, F. C.; Tumbo, S. D.
Climate change affects women and men differently. However, there are few location-specific studies that can support interventions or policy development that can tackle this issue. To help build that body of knowledge, this article looks at gender-differentiated vulnerability among smallholder farmers in one sub-Saharan African country: Tanzania. Data were collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions in Same District, northern Tanzania. Results revealed notable inequalities distributed across genders. Women bear the biggest burden from climate change impacts. For example, women shoulder 63% of productive tasks, such as ploughing and crop sowing, compared to 28% by men. On the other hand, resource ownership and expenditure are male dominated. The results highlight the need for governments and NGOs to address gender disparities in policies designed to strengthen the capacity of households to cope with vulnerability to climate change impacts.
Gendered impact assessment on food securing upgrading strategies: Results from Three methodological approaches
(2017) Mnimbo, T. S.; Lyimo-Macha2, J.; Urassa, J.; Graef, F.
In developing countries, rural women and men play different roles in guaranteeing food security for their households and communities. The gendered aspects of food security are visible along the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization and stability but one cause reported to hamper ineffectiveness is overlooking gender dynamics. Therefore this study aims to explore the gendered arguments towards food security by using different methodological tools while focusing on the food security criteria and the three sustainable development criteria (economic, social and environmental aspects). The specific objectives were to analyse differences between scientist and farmer perspectives in relation to the three upgrading strategies namely rainwater harvesting (RWH), improved processing, and household nutrition education and kitchen gardening) and to find out the difference in results when triangulating the tools on target group in order to set preferences in local contexts which helps to anticipate what measures would be needed to improve food security. The study used diverse assessment approaches namely a) a participatory stakeholder approach using the FoPIA tool (Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment) b) a scientific expert based approach using ScalA-FS (scaling up assessment-Food security tool), and c). Gender Analysis Matrix (GAM). Focus group discussions, key informant interviews and household survey were the main methods of data collection. The study found that female and male participants scored the criteria differently. Men considered social relations in the community and in the household more important for food security than women did. Women scored several productionrelated aspects as more important than men. Gender-based inequalities along the food value chain ‘from farm to plate’ that impede the attainment of food and nutritional security must therefore be addressed through effective gender responsive policies and programs.