Gender Mainstreaming in Miraa Farming in the Eastern Highlands of Kenya

Jessica Ndubi (), Festus Murithi, Elias Thuranira, Alice Murage, Cecilia Kathurima and Elijah Gichuru
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Jessica Ndubi: Department of Socioeconomics and Policy Development, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P.O. Box 57811, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
Festus Murithi: Department of Socioeconomics and Policy Development, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P.O. Box 57811, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
Elias Thuranira: Department of Socioeconomics and Policy Development, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 14733, Nairobi 00800, Kenya
Alice Murage: Department of Socioeconomics and Policy Development, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P.O. Box 57811, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
Cecilia Kathurima: Department of Crop Research, Coffee Research Institute, P.O. Box 4-00232, Ruiru 00232, Kenya
Elijah Gichuru: Department of Crop Research, Coffee Research Institute, P.O. Box 4-00232, Ruiru 00232, Kenya

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: Miraa ( Catha edulis forsk ) farming is a major income earner in Kenya, but until recently, it was not scheduled as a priority crop in the country. Consequently, no gender research to identify men and women issues with the purpose of designing gender-responsive solutions for increased productivity has ever been conducted on the crop value chain. The main objective of the study was to examine gender issues in miraa production and marketing activities in Kenya. Data were collected using multiple methods. These included a formal survey that covered 962 households, key informants’ interviews, focused group discussions and a literature review. The household data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using SPSS Version 20 software. The Harvard theoretical framework was used to structure the analysis. The main findings indicate that women have less access to production resources such as land and extension services than men. Moreover, men performed almost all crop activities. Men also dominated all crop decisions. The study recommends that research scientists need to design gender-responsive technologies, innovations and management practices that are tailor made to meet men’s needs and concerns. This is because the crop appears to belong to men with less women’s operational and financial control.

Keywords: control of resources; decision making; gender; labor division; miraa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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