Abstract
The ability of smallholder women farmers to make decisions about how to adapt to climate change is fundamental to their livelihoods and agriculture performance in the global south. Much as women actively engage in agriculture and it forms their major source of livelihood, a myriad of encumbrances constrain their ability to decide what adaptation strategies to implement. It’s worth noting that, the manner in which farmers relate may contribute to how they will respond to climate change and gain from agriculture. Among most smallholder women farmers, gender disparities in resource access and opportunities such as agricultural extension services, training and climate information among other social, political, economic and institution impediments undermine their adaptation decisions. These entwine with power relations, norms and value systems and shape their decisions. Considering the significance of gender and relations in climate response, this research interrogates: how gender relations mediated by institutions contribute to adaptation decisions of smallholder women farmers in Uganda. It focuses on understanding how relations between male and female farmers with respect to resources, responsibilities and power shape women’s decisions about what adaptation strategies to implement. Qualitative participatory methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, Venn diagram, gender disaggregated seasonal calendar, transect walk and gender resource mapping is adopted to collect data. From this research, more insights about how gender relations links to adaption decisions are elicited. This contributes to climate change policy and practice which aim at enhancing women’s adaptation at the local government, national, regional, and international levels.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
Climate change, Adaptation decisions, Gender relations, Smallholder women farmers, Uganda
