The gendered value chain of matooke banana and its implications for tissue culture adoption in Uganda

Matthew A. Schnurr, Christopher D. Gore, Lincoln Addison, Sylvia Bawa, Alanna Taylor, Henry Nsereko and Sarah Mujabi-Mujuzi

Journal of Eastern African Studies, 2024, vol. 18, issue 4, 603-626

Abstract: Tissue culture banana is promoted as a form of micro-propagation that can aid farmers in managing pests and disease in Uganda, the country with the largest per capita consumption of banana in the world. But uptake amongst smallholder farmers remains low. This study recruited 71 farmers from five banana-growing districts in Uganda to assess how gender dynamics of matooke production impact the adoption and sustained use of tissue culture. We collaborated with farmers and co-produced a three-stage, participatory methodological protocol for mapping value chains. Our analysis reveals a gendered division of labour and limited access to resources that shape farmers’ ability to benefit from this technology. Women farmers are interested in tissue culture banana but face challenges related to demands for land preparation, accessing plantlets, and relevant knowledge, while men are more reluctant due to their fragility, high cost, and the additional labour demands needed to ensure the crop's survival. This study highlights the necessity of understanding the gendered division along a crop’s value chain to ensure the success of new breeding technologies.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1080/17531055.2024.2389504

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