IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v11y2021i9p840-d626752.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Gender and Institutional Dynamics in Adapting Seed Systems to Climate Change: Case Studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Pricilla Marimo

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Kampala P.O. Box 24384, Uganda)

  • Gloria Otieno

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Kampala P.O. Box 24384, Uganda)

  • Esther Njuguna-Mungai

    (International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya)

  • Ronnie Vernooy

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Michael Halewood

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Via di San Domenico, 00153 Rome, Italy)

  • Carlo Fadda

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi 001001, Kenya)

  • John Wasswa Mulumba

    (National Agriculture Research Organization, Entebbe P.O. Box 40, Uganda)

  • Desterio Ondieki Nyamongo

    (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Genetic Resources Research Institute, P.O. Box 781, Kikuyu 00902, Kenya)

  • Margaret Mollel

    (Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Arusha P.O. Box 3024, Tanzania)

Abstract

We explore how seed systems enhance access to seeds, and information for climate-change adaptation in farming communities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as how gender-driven roles and institutional dynamics influence the process. Men and women farmers equally experience climate-change related effects, including drought, short rainy seasons and increased pest and disease incidence. Our study relies on exploratory data analysis of 1001 households surveyed in four sites in 2016. Farmers surveyed preferred early-maturing, heat-tolerant, high-yielding, and pest- and disease-resistant varieties, all important climate-adaptive traits. Seed systems of the focus crops studied are largely informal—overall, 68% women and 62% men use their own seed, indicating women’s higher reliance on ‘informal’ seed and information sources. Only 21% of respondents reported interacting with seed experts who are affiliated with formal organizations. Both formal and informal organizations play a key role in providing access to climate-adapted seed/information, with access for men and women varying across the countries studied. There is a need to support further development of those connections, building on existing social networks. We conclude that inclusive and gender-responsive context- and country-specific seed interventions will ensure equitable outcomes, increase women’s empowerment and strengthen both formal and informal seed systems for more effective climate-change adaptation.

Suggested Citation

  • Pricilla Marimo & Gloria Otieno & Esther Njuguna-Mungai & Ronnie Vernooy & Michael Halewood & Carlo Fadda & John Wasswa Mulumba & Desterio Ondieki Nyamongo & Margaret Mollel, 2021. "The Role of Gender and Institutional Dynamics in Adapting Seed Systems to Climate Change: Case Studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:9:p:840-:d:626752
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/9/840/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/9/840/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Doss, Cheryl R. & Morris, Michael L., 2001. "How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations?: The case of improved maize technology in Ghana," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 27-39, June.
    2. Elkhan Richard Sadik-Zada, 2020. "Distributional Bargaining and the Speed of Structural Change in the Petroleum Exporting Labor Surplus Economies," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(1), pages 51-98, January.
    3. Ngigi, Marther W. & Mueller, Ulrike & Birner, Regina, 2017. "Gender Differences in Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Participation in Group-based Approaches: An Intra-household Analysis From Rural Kenya," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 99-108.
    4. Mulwa, Chalmers & Marenya, Paswel & Rahut, Dil Bahadur & Kassie, Menale, 2015. "Response to Climate Risks among Smallholder Farmers in Malawi: A Multivariate Probit Assessment of the Role of Information, Household Demographics and Farm Characteristics," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212511, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Gloria Otieno & Wesley Mlsna Zebrowski & John Recha & Travis William Reynolds, 2021. "Gender and Social Seed Networks for Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Bean, Finger Millet, and Sorghum Seed Systems in East Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, February.
    6. Norman Uphoff & Louise Buck, 2006. "Strengthening Rural Local Institutional Capacities for Sustainable Livelihoods and Equitable Development," World Bank Publications - Reports 8194, The World Bank Group.
    7. Kramer, Berber & Galiè, Alessandra, 2020. "Gender dynamics in seed systems development," Other briefs 134158, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Oscar J. Cacho & Jonathan Moss & Philip K. Thornton & Mario Herrero & Ben Henderson & Benjamin L. Bodirsky & Florian Humpenöder & Alexander Popp & Leslie Lipper, 2020. "The value of climate-resilient seeds for smallholder adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1213-1229, October.
    9. Hassan Y. Aly & Michael P. Shields, 2010. "Gender and agricultural productivity in a surplus labor, traditional economy:empirical evidence from Nepal," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 43(2), pages 111-124, January-M.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ragasa, Catherine, 2012. "Gender and Institutional Dimensions of Agricultural Technology Adoption: A Review of Literature and Synthesis of 35 Case Studies," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126747, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Doss, Cheryl, 2015. "Women and Agricultural Productivity: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?," Center Discussion Papers 212153, Yale University, Economic Growth Center.
    3. Twyman, Jennifer & Muriel, Juliana & Garcia, Maria Alejandra, 2015. "Identifying women farmers: Informal gender norms as institutional barriers to recognizing women’s contributions to agriculture," Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender), Africa Centre for Gender, Social Research and Impact Assessment, vol. 1(2).
    4. Andre Croppenstedt & Markus Goldstein & Nina Rosas, 2013. "Gender and Agriculture: Inefficiencies, Segregation, and Low Productivity Traps," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 28(1), pages 79-109, February.
    5. Michalscheck, Mirja & Groot, Jeroen C.J. & Fischer, Gundula & Tittonell, Pablo, 2020. "Land use decisions: By whom and to whose benefit? A serious game to uncover dynamics in farm land allocation at household level in Northern Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Mekonnen, Daniel Ayalew & Gerber, Nicolas & Matz, Julia Anna, 2018. "Gendered Social Networks, Agricultural Innovations, and Farm Productivity in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 321-335.
    7. Langyintuo, Augustine S. & Mungoma, Catherine, 2008. "The effect of household wealth on the adoption of improved maize varieties in Zambia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 550-559, December.
    8. Orkhan Sariyev & Tim K. Loos & Manfred Zeller & Tulsi Gurung, 2020. "Women in household decision-making and implications for dietary quality in Bhutan," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Pratyusha Basu & Alessandra Galiè, 2021. "Introduction to Special Issue: Gender and Rural Development: Sustainable Livelihoods in a Neoliberal Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-4, November.
    10. Andrea Caravaggio & Luigi De Cesare & Andrea Di Liddo, 2023. "A Differential Game for Optimal Water Price Management," Games, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Dang, Hoa Le & Pham, Thuyen Thi & Pham, Nhung Thi Hong & Nam, Pham Khanh, 2022. "Gender-Differentiated Determinants of Rice Farmers' Choice of Strategies to Adapt to Salinity Intrusion in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam," EfD Discussion Paper 22-9, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    12. Arun Khatri-Chhetri & Punya Prasad Regmi & Nitya Chanana & Pramod K. Aggarwal, 2020. "Potential of climate-smart agriculture in reducing women farmers’ drudgery in high climatic risk areas," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 29-42, January.
    13. Lilli Scheiterle & Regina Birner, 2018. "Assessment of Ghana’s Comparative Advantage in Maize Production and the Role of Fertilizers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.
    14. Ali, Jabir, 2011. "Adoption of Mass Media Information for Decision-Making Among Vegetable Growers in Uttar Pradesh," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 66(2), pages 1-14.
    15. Rafiei, Rezvan & Huang, Kai & Verma, Manish, 2022. "Cash versus in-kind transfer programs in humanitarian operations: An optimization program and a case study," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    16. Fisher, Monica & Kandiwa, Vongai, 2014. "Can agricultural input subsidies reduce the gender gap in modern maize adoption? Evidence from Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 101-111.
    17. Everlyne, Andiema Chesang & Agnes, Nkurumwa Oywaya & David, Amudavi Mulama, 2013. "Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Adoption of Energy– Saving Technologies among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of West Pokot County, Kenya," International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (IJAMAD), Iranian Association of Agricultural Economics, vol. 3(4), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Willy, Daniel Kyalo & Holm-Müller, Karin, 2013. "Social influence and collective action effects on farm level soil conservation effort in rural Kenya," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 94-103.
    19. Kenneth, Akankwasa & Gerald, Ortmann & Edilegnaw, Wale & Wilberforce, Tushemereirwe, 2012. "Ex-Ante Adoption of New Cooking Banana (Matooke) Hybrids in Uganda Based on Farmers' Perceptions," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 123302, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    20. Seebens, Holger, 2008. "One size fits all? Female Headed Households, Income Risk, and Access to Resources," 2008 International Congress, August 26-29, 2008, Ghent, Belgium 43609, European Association of Agricultural Economists.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:9:p:840-:d:626752. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.