Gender dynamics in seed systems: an integrative review of seed promotion interventions in Africa

Kramer, Berber; Trachtman, Carly

doi:10.1007/s12571-023-01403-2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Since improved seed systems have reached and benefited fewer women farmers than men farmers, particularly in remote areas, some research is being directed toward strengthening the genderresponsiveness of seed systems (Kramer and Trachtman, 2023). Women's access to and adoption of improved seed, and their control over the benefits generated through this seed-for example through seed entrepreneurship-have the potential to enhance women's empowerment, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Galiè, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently, women's involvement in seed agripreneurship in low-and middle-income countries is limited, and evidence on the mechanisms that support or hinder women from engaging in it, or on how seed agripreneurship may contribute to women's empowerment, is meager (Puskur et al, 2021). In this article, we posit that such evidence is necessary to develop more functional, effective, and equitable seed systems that support the empowerment of all farmers and actors along seed value chains (Kramer and Galiè, 2020;Puskur et al, 2021;Kramer and Trachtman, 2023). Through case studies, we aim to deepen the evidence base on the challenges women seed actors face and suggest ways forward.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Women's seed entrepreneurship in aquaculture, maize, and poultry value chains in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania

Farnworth,

Galiè,

Gumucio

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Seed systems are essential to bring good genetic material to farmers. Women farmers, however, have benefited less than men farmers from seed systems in low and middle income countries. We identify factors that inhibit and promote women's success in seed businesses through three case studies of women's and men's entrepreneurship across seed-related value chains and country contexts: tilapia seed production in Ghana, marketing and trading of improved maize and sorghum seeds in Kenya, and chicken seed dissemination in Tanzania. Applying a gender lens, we use key informant interviews and focus group discussions to analyze women's and men's motivations to engage in seed businesses, the challenges they confront to start and build their enterprises, and prospects for sustainability and continued success. We use quantitative data to characterize the levels of empowerment of the agripreneurs sampled. For women, the results show that the social normative context of the sector is critical. Time flexibility and profitability are important considerations for women's engagement. Furthermore, across all three country cases, family and external support are frequently key to women's participation and success in seed agripreneurship. The article discusses the importance of government bodies, NGOs, and donors in challenging the normative context around gender resource gaps, as well as provide technical packages and training to develop business acumen. Supporting change of restrictive gender norms in non-threatening ways - such as ICTs - is key.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women's seed entrepreneurship in aquaculture, maize, and poultry value chains in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania

Farnworth,

Galiè,

Gumucio

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

Self Cite

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Market-driven transitions in the vegetable seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa

ter Steeg,

Louwaars

2024

Agricultural Systems

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Nutrition for all? Input subsidies and equitable diets

Ng'ombe,

Prah,

Kiwanuka‐Lubinda

et al. 2024

Review Development Economics

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While agricultural input subsidies can improve productivity and nutrition, a key unanswered question is whether such government initiatives influence equitable nutrition access across genders. We study gender disparities in dietary diversity among 7783 smallholder farms in Zambia, evaluating the potential of subsidies to mitigate gaps. Using Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition methods, results reveal female‐headed households (FHHs) have significantly lower dietary diversity than male‐headed ones, with gaps ranging from 6% to 12% along the distribution. Male‐headed households (MHHs) also show 9% higher input subsidy participation, influenced by education and agricultural extension access among others. Crucially, increased FHHs' participation in input subsidies could potentially close the gendered dietary diversity gap, even surpassing MHHs by 17.8%, underscoring the promise of targeted efforts to improve gender equity. However, achieving socioeconomic parity with MHHs further amplifies positive impacts. Given these findings, facilitating FHHSs' access to input subsidies can promote more equitable nutrition outcomes between genders. Broader participation could be enabled by strengthening agricultural extension and education to equip farmers, especially marginalized female‐headed and remote households, to leverage subsidized inputs. Overall, this study demonstrates that prioritizing female‐headed households' inclusion in input subsidy programs, alongside integrated support, holds strong potential to narrow gendered disparities in dietary diversity among smallholder farms in Zambia. It provides key insights to inform the design of nutrition‐sensitive, gender‐aware agricultural policies.

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Gender dynamics in seed systems: an integrative review of seed promotion interventions in Africa

Cited by 3 publications

References 100 publications

Women's seed entrepreneurship in aquaculture, maize, and poultry value chains in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania

Women's seed entrepreneurship in aquaculture, maize, and poultry value chains in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania

Market-driven transitions in the vegetable seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa

Nutrition for all? Input subsidies and equitable diets

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