Gender differences in rice production participation among smallholder farmers in small-scale irrigation schemes in mbarali district, Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorMwalyagile Neema
dc.contributor.authorJeckoniah, John N.
dc.contributor.authorSalanga, Rymond J.
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-23T14:19:24Z
dc.date.available2026-07-23T14:19:24Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionJournal of Agriculture and Food Research
dc.description.abstractSmallholder farmers are crucial to agri-food production in sub-Saharan Africa. However, gender disparities in rice production participation persist in Tanzania. Existing research has yet to fully explore how demographic and socioeconomic factors influence gendered participation in rice production. This study assesses gender differences in rice production participation patterns among smallholder farmers and identify gender-related socio-economic and demographic factors influencing differences in participation within small-scale irrigation schemes in Mbarali District. Using cross-sectional approach, data were collected from 397 randomly selected farmers through structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, including ordered probit regression. The results revealed significant gender differences in rice production participation (p < 0.01). Male farmers had higher participation rates in activities such as land preparation, seedbed preparation, seedling management, irrigation, herbicide, fertilizer, pesticide application, harvesting, transporting, storage, and selling, while female farmers had higher participation rates in transplanting and weeding. The overall level of partici- pation was moderate, with 78 % of male farmers and 49 % of female farmers. However, larger proportion of females (43 %) were at a lower participation levels compared to only 1 % of male farmers, while 21 % of males and 8 % of females were at high participation levels. Factors like household size, farming management, hier- archical position within households, decision-making power, and the ability to access irrigation water positively influenced participation levels, while land size cultivated had a negative impact (p < 0.05). These were gender- related socio-economic and demographic factors that disadvantage female farmers’ participation (p < 0.05). While the age of the farmer and inadequacy of irrigation water significantly affected participation levels, farm- hired labour had positive influence, however, these factors were not gender-specific. The study concludes that gender differences in participation in rice production are influenced by demographic and socio-economic factors. To address these, the study recommends for interventions that reduce gender disparities by promoting equality in resource access, enhancing women’s decision-making power over resources and ability to access irrigation water, and ensure sufficient water in small-scale irrigation schemes. The government should create an enabling envi- ronment that supporting female farmers in small-scale irrigation schemes for broader gender equality in agri- culture and rural development.
dc.identifier.citationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101390
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7833
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherELSEVIER
dc.subjectGender
dc.subjectRice production participation
dc.subjectSmallholder farmers
dc.subjectDemographic characteristics
dc.subjectSocio-economic factors
dc.subjectSmall-scale irrigation
dc.titleGender differences in rice production participation among smallholder farmers in small-scale irrigation schemes in mbarali district, Tanzania
dc.typeArticle

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