Abstract
Women play an important role in poultry but gender inequalities thwart technologies, innovation, and management practices into impacting their livelihoods. Women have less access than men to production resources such as land, capital, equipment, credit and advisory services. Besides men are the main decision makers in the household and community levels. This gender inequality hinders agricultural technologies, innovation, and management practices to have a positive impact on women farmers. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the differential gender roles in poultry production in Kenya and factors within and beyond the household that hinder agricultural technologies and innovations to have a positive impact on women farmers with regards to food and nutrition security. Data were collected using qualitative methods such as key informants and focused group discussions. Data were also collected quantitatively using a survey that covered 394 households. This data was analysed using SPSS version 20 software. The main findings indicate that in spite of decades of efforts towards promoting gender equity, there are still several factors that hinder agricultural technologies to work for women farmers due to issues related to institutionalized norms that discriminate women in accessing productive resources such as land, implements, credit, and extension services. The study recommends empowerment of women through access to and utilization of agricultural resources as well as attempting to change the customary laws.
Presenters
Jessica NdubiSenior Research Scientist and Gender Coordinator, Socioeconomics and Policy Development , Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Nairobi Municipality, Kenya
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Gender Inequality, Resources, Decision making
