Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2015 in Berlin, Germany "Management of land use systems for enhanced food security – conflicts, controversies and resolutions"

Gender Roles, Choices of Crop Types and Value Chain Upgrading Strategies in Semi-Arid and Sub-Humid Tanzania

¹Sokoine University of Agriculture, Development Studies Institute, Tanzania
²Sokoine University of Agriculture, Inst. of Continuing Education, Tanzania
³Sokoine University of Agriculture, Dept. of Agric. Engineering & Land Planning, Tanzania

Abstract

Different cultures assign roles and responsibilities differently along product value chains according to gender. Upgrading strategies on a given product value chain might not lead to the intended impact on the different gender groups in different cultures if gender analysis is not undertaken. This study involved two societies; the first consisted of mainly one ethnic group in a semi-arid area and the other highly multi-ethnic group in a sub-humid region. The study aimed at determining the influence of gender on preferred food and cash crops, and upgrading strategies in the two societies. A mixed methods research design was used to collect information from participatory workshops, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Content analysis method was used in the analysis of gender disaggregated information. Results show that both societies in semi-arid and sub-humid areas being gender neutral on the first priority cash and food crops. The first priority cash and food crops in sub-humid area for all gender groups were sesame and maize, respectively, whereas in semi-arid area were bulrush millet and groundnuts. Gender difference showed on the second priority food crop in semi-arid area and third priority food crop in sub-humid area, where women and youth differed with men (maize vs. sorghum in semi-arid region) or youth differed with women and men (cassava vs. rice in sub-humid region). Regarding upgrading strategies, which were only done on first priority crops, it was found that most strategies preferred by men were much different to those preferred by women and youth. This is because of the roles and responsibilities of the different gender groups in the different societies. In both areas, youth and women preferred upgrading strategies related to crop harvesting, transportation and primary processing compared to men whose preference were upgrading strategies on farm inputs and crop marketing. The study recommends that site-specific gendered analysis on upgrading strategies in agricultural value chains should be done before an intervention is introduced.

Keywords: Crop production, gender roles, upgrading strategies, value chain

Contact Address: Tatu Mnimbo, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Development Studies Institute, Morogoro, Tanzania, e-mail: maureen3mnimbogmail.com