Influence of gender on roles, choices of crop types and value chain upgrading strategies in semi-arid and sub-humid Tanzania

T. S. Mnimbo (), J. Lyimo-Macha, J. K. Urassa, H. F. Mahoo, S. D. Tumbo and F. Graef
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T. S. Mnimbo: College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Development Studies Institute
J. Lyimo-Macha: Sokoine University of Agriculture
J. K. Urassa: College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Development Studies Institute
H. F. Mahoo: Sokoine University of Agriculture
S. D. Tumbo: Sokoine University of Agriculture
F. Graef: Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2017, vol. 9, issue 6, No 6, 1173-1187

Abstract: Abstract Upgrading strategies for a given product value chain might not result in the intended impact on different gender groups, if gender analysis is not undertaken. This study investigated the gender influence on preferred food and cash crops, as well as upgrading strategies in sub-humid Kilosa and semi-arid Chamwino Districts, Tanzania. A mixed methods research design was used to collect information from 595 respondents, while content analysis was used to qualitatively analyze qualitative data obtained from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Our findings show that farmers from Kilosa and Chamwino had no differences with respect to preferences expressed by men and women for their first priority cash. Gender differences for choices were evident in relation to the second priority, food crops, in the semi-arid area and the third priority, which was also food crops in the sub-humid area, where women and youth differed from men on their views toward maize versus sorghum in the semi-arid region. Here, youth differed from women and men in how they viewed cassava versus rice. For upgrading strategies, which were only conducted with the first priority crops, most of the strategies preferred by men differed from those preferred by women and youth. In both areas, youth and women preferred upgrading strategies related to crop harvesting, transportation and primary processing, whereas men preferred upgrading strategies for farm inputs and crop marketing. Therefore, it is recommended that site-specific gendered analysis on upgrading strategies in agricultural value chains should be completed prior to introducing an intervention.

Keywords: Gender roles; Crop types; Value chains; Upgrading strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-017-0682-2

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