Gender differentials in adoption of soil nutrient replenishment technologies in meru south district, Kenya
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Date
2011-08-15
Authors
Kirumba, Edith Gathoni
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Abstract
Understanding gender differentials in adoption of soil nutrient replenishment technologies is critical to the successful uptake of these soil improving innovations by farmers. The importance of gender issues in adoption of soil innovations is increasingly gaining global recognition and there is a strong call for its integration in development projects and programs. This study was conducted firstly to investigate gender differences in the frequency of participation in soil related project activities, secondly, to determine how choices of technologies adopted differed between male and female headed households and finally to investigate socio-economic. institutional, farm characteristics and demographic factors influencing adoption. Primary data was collected using semi-structured interview schedules. focus group discussions and keyinformant interviews. Secondary sources included the agro forestry systems journal. science direct. agricultural systems journal. nature journal. and related articles, books and periodicals.
Descriptive and bi-variate analyses were done to determine relationships between the variables under study. Descriptive analysis involved the use of means. percentages. range. standard deviation and cross tabulation. BI-variate analysis was conducted by use of Chi-square and T-tests run at P<0.05 to test for significant relationships between variables. Multi-variate analysis was done by use of logistic regression analysis to determine factors that significantly influenced adoption. The results indicated that female headed households participated in significantly lesser numbers in project activities than male headed households. Further, adoption of cattle manure and mineral fertilizer was significantly higher for male headed households in comparison to female headed households. The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that in maleheaded households, adoption was significantly influenced by number of cattle owned, access to credit, number of adults working on farm and farmer group membership.
For female headed households, adoption was significantly influenced by size of land under cash crops, number of goats owned, number of adults working on farm, participation in project activities, and farmer group membership. Based on these results, there is a clear need for strategies, policies and efforts geared towards promoting gender parity in adoption of soil fertility enhancing technologies. Efforts aimed at increasing adoption and agricultural productivity for both male and female headed households should consider increasing farmers' membership in groups and improve their ability to purchase inputs such as fertilizers and labor
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of
Master of Environmental Studies (Agroforestry
and Rural Development) of Kenyatta University, February 2009
Keywords
Soil fertility--research