Gains from gender equality in Irish potato production among farming households in Uasin Gishu County
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Date
2022-12
Authors
Machoka, B. N.
Mwenjeri, G.
Bett, E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation
Abstract
Women play a significant role in improving livelihoods and supporting food security and nutrition as they are increasingly involved in agriculture. However, gender differences manifest with women displaying lower agricultural productivity than men. These differences affect agricultural output levels, food security, and livelihoods. This study investigates the potential production and welfare gains from gender equality among potato farming households in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. This study adopted a quantitative survey design to collect data from 256 farmers selected using simple random sampling. The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition model was employed to identify the gender difference in production, which was used to analyze the potential gains from gender equality. This study determined that substantial production and welfare gains would be achieved by closing an 11% (P≤0.01) production gap that favours male farmers. 33% (P≤0.05) of this production differential was attributed to gender differences in returns to production factors (P≤0.05) and 53% to the endowment factors. The potential production and welfare gains to be achieved through gender equality in production would be a 6% increase in the total potato output and a 9% increase in per capita consumption in the county, respectively. This study’s general conclusion is female farmers can be as productive as male farmers if their resource endowment and use constraints would be addressed.
Description
Article in East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 86(3 & 4), 11. Retrieved from https://www.kalro.org/www.eaafj.or.ke/index.php/path/article/view/596
Keywords
Welfare, consumption, Oaxaca-Blinder, gender gap, farmers
Citation
Machoka, B. N., Mwenjeri, G., & Bett, E. (2022). Gains from Gender Equality in Irish Potato Production Among Farming Households in Uasin Gishu County. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 86(3 & 4), 11. Retrieved from https://www.kalro.org/www.eaafj.or.ke/index.php/path/article/view/596