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Gender and agricultural value chains: A review of current knowledge and practice and their policy implications

Author

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  • Coles, Christopher
  • Mitchell, Jonathan

Abstract

This paper introduces value chain analysis and development as tools for addressing gender inequities in markets. We describe how factors such as access to assets, gendered education differentials and the nature and value of economic activities affect the way in which men and women participate and gain in value chains, distinguishing among household, institutional and chain levels of analysis. Current empirical evidence for the role of upgrading in value chains in impacting gender inequities in markets is weakened by our as yet imperfect understanding of the issues. However, horizontal coordination can reduce gender-related disparities in bargaining and management power as a precursor to stronger vertical relationships. Improvements in processes, products and functional distribution in value chains can improve chain-level outcomes leading to women's empowerment and, ultimately, to improved household poverty outcomes. However, this progression from positive impacts to desirable outcomes is not a given and depends on often complex context-specific socio-cultural norms. In particular, the benefits of women's participation in agricultural value chains are determined by their control of productive resources and household level decisions. Where both sexes play a role in decision making generic interventions, or even those applied to men only, can benefit both sexes. Where women do not participate in spending decisions a more gender-specific approach that targets underlying gender issues in households and institutions is required. We illustrate that unsound gender analyses can miss the point, resulting in flawed understanding of the real issues and ineffective or even damaging interventions. We conclude that the universal application of packages of generic 'default' interventions risk doing harm and that upgrading strategies should be applied on a case by case basis and only after a thorough and robust analysis of causal factors. We outline for practitioners what a robust analysis should look like and present a menu of policy options for acting to promote gender equity and reduce poverty using the value chain analysis and development approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Coles, Christopher & Mitchell, Jonathan, 2011. "Gender and agricultural value chains: A review of current knowledge and practice and their policy implications," ESA Working Papers 289016, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:faoaes:289016
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.289016
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    Cited by:

    1. Margareta Amy Lelea & Lydia Madintin Konlan & Rashida Chantima Ziblila & Lara Elena Thiele & Araba Amo-Aidoo & Brigitte Kaufmann, 2022. "Strategies to Promote Sustainable Development: The Gendered Importance of Addressing Diminishing African Locust Bean ( Parkia biglobosa ) Resources in Northern Ghana’s Agro-Ecological Landscape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Me-Nsope, Nathalie & Larkins, Michelle, 2016. "Beyond crop production: Gender relations along the pigeon pea value chain and implications for income and food security in Malawi," Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender), Africa Centre for Gender, Social Research and Impact Assessment, vol. 1(3), pages 1-22.
    3. Swaans, Kees & Cullen, Beth & van Rooyen, André & Adekunle, Adewale & Ngwenya, Hlami & Lema, Zelalem & Nederlof, Suzanne, 2016. "Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation," IFPRI book chapters, in: Devaux, André & Torero, Maximo & Donovan, Jason & Horton, Douglas E. (ed.), Innovation for inclusive value-chain development: Successes and challenges, chapter 10, pages 303-328, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Donovan, Jason & Franzel, Steve & Cunha, Marcelo & Gyau, Amos & Mithöfer, Dagmar, 2016. "Guides for Value-Chain development: A comparative review," IFPRI book chapters, in: Devaux, André & Torero, Maximo & Donovan, Jason & Horton, Douglas E. (ed.), Innovation for inclusive value-chain development: Successes and challenges, chapter 1, pages 47-74, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Forsythe, Lora & Posthummus, Helena & Martin, Adrienne, 2016. "A crop of one's own? Women’s experiences of cassava commercialization in Nigeria and Malawi," Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender), Africa Centre for Gender, Social Research and Impact Assessment, vol. 1(2).
    6. Milu Elisha Kafumukache & John Moose, Eva Nambeye & Joyce Siwila, 2024. "Role and Form of Women’s Participation in the Fish Value Chain in Small-Scale Farming in Lusaka Province," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(1), pages 1949-1958, January.
    7. Therese Gondwe & A. Tegbaru & Alamu E. Oladeji & Makaiko Khonje & J. Manda & H. Gaya, 2017. "Correlates and consequences of women’s participation in the cowpea value chain in eastern Zambia," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(3), pages 263-273, July.
    8. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Promoting Gender – Equitable Agricultural Value Chains: the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria’s Niger Delta," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 22/087, African Governance and Development Institute..
    9. Cheryl O’Brien & Laura Leavens & Cheikh Ndiaye & Djibril Traoré, 2022. "Women’s Empowerment, Income, and Nutrition in a Food Processing Value Chain Development Project in Touba, Senegal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-29, August.
    10. Gundula Fischer & Nicolas Patt & Justus Ochieng & Henry Mvungi, 2020. "Participation in and Gains from Traditional Vegetable Value Chains: a Gendered Analysis of Perceptions of Labour, Income and Expenditure in Producers’ and Traders’ Households," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(4), pages 1080-1104, September.
    11. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Promoting Gender – Equitable Agricultural Value Chains: the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria’s Niger Delta," Working Papers 22/087, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    12. Birhanu Megersa Lenjiso & Jeroen Smits & Ruerd Ruben, 2016. "Smallholder Milk Market Participation and Intra-household Time Allocation in Ethiopia," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 28(5), pages 808-825, November.
    13. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Promoting Gender – Equitable Agricultural Value Chains: the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria’s Niger Delta," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 22/021, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    14. Judith Beatrice Auma Oduol & Dagmar Mithöfer, 2014. "Constraints to and Opportunities for Women’s Participation in High Value Agricultural Commodity Value Chains in Kenya," Working Papers 2014/11, Maastricht School of Management.
    15. T. S. Mnimbo & J. Lyimo-Macha & J. K. Urassa & H. F. Mahoo & S. D. Tumbo & F. Graef, 2017. "Influence of gender on roles, choices of crop types and value chain upgrading strategies in semi-arid and sub-humid Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1173-1187, December.

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