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Gender differences in agricultural productivity in Côte d'Ivoire: Distribution, drivers, and changes over time

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  • Aletheia Donald
  • Gabriel Lawin
  • Léa Rouanet

Abstract

This paper analyzes changes in agricultural productivity gender gaps in Côte d'Ivoire between 2008 and 2016 using decomposition methods. The analysis finds that the gender gap went from 40% in food crops and 17% in exports crops in 2008, to 19% in food crops and a statistical zero in export crops in 2016. The overall gender gap decreased by 15 percentage points over this period, and is statistically insignificant in 2016 once accounting for whether households farm export crops. Moreover, our results show that while some drivers of the gender gap remain stable across the decade (including total land cultivated, and pesticide and fertilizer use), others change their contribution (number of plots, crop choice and household labor). Despite substantial improvements, female‐headed households in the bottom half of the distribution remain disadvantaged. Our results indicate that strengthening women's access to agricultural labor and adoption of export crops are policy priorities to reach gender parity. Cet article analyse l’évolution des écarts de productivité agricole entre les sexes en Côte d'Ivoire entre 2008 et 2016 à l'aide de méthodes de décomposition. L'analyse révèle que les ménages dirigés par des femmes sont passés d'un écart de 40 pour cent avec les ménages dirigés par un homme pour les cultures vivrières et de 17 pour cent pour les cultures d' exportation en 2008, à un écart de 19 pour cent pourles cultures vivrières et un écart statistiquement nul pour les cultures d'exportation en 2016. L’écart global entre les sexes a diminué de 15 points de pourcentage au cours de cette période et n'est pas statistiquement significatif en 2016 si l'on tient compte du fait que les ménages cultivent ou non des cultures d'exportation. De plus, nos résultats montrent que si certains facteurs de l’écart entre les sexes restent stables tout au long de la décennie (y compris la superficie totale cultivée, l'utilisation de pesticide et d'engrais), la contribution de certains est modifié (nombre de parcelles, choix de cultures et main‐d’œuvre domestique). Malgré des améliorations substantielles, les ménages dirigés par des femmes dans la moitié inférieure de la distribution restent désavantagés. Nos résultats indiquent que le renforcement de l'accès des ménages dirigés par des femmes à la main‐d’œuvre agricole et l'adoption de cultures d'exportation sont des priorités politiques pour atteindre la parité entre les sexes.

Suggested Citation

  • Aletheia Donald & Gabriel Lawin & Léa Rouanet, 2024. "Gender differences in agricultural productivity in Côte d'Ivoire: Distribution, drivers, and changes over time," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 72(1), pages 77-100, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:canjag:v:72:y:2024:i:1:p:77-100
    DOI: 10.1111/cjag.12352
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    References listed on IDEAS

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