Gender, place, and agricultural extension: a mixed-methods approach to understand farmer needs in Liberia

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores the intersection of gender and place with agricultural extension services to understand disparities in resource and information access and build community resilience in post-conflict Liberia. It emphasizes how such intersections may be further compounded by climate change and provides possible solutions. Methodology: Using a community-based research approach, 352 surveys and 44 focus groups were conducted in 22 communities in 3 counties in north-central Liberia. Subsequently, qualitative, quantitative, and spatial analyses were done to explore gender and place-based differences in farmer access to agricultural resources and household agency. Findings: Study results show that women farmers have less access to technology, agricultural resources and information; higher, combined productive and domestic, labor burdens; and that farmers of both genders want more female extension officers. Practical Implications: This study provides critical data to help effectively target limited expenditures on national extension services to smallholder farmers in post-conflict settings. Further, solutions for practitioners to adaptively mitigate farming challenges enhanced by climate change. Theoretical Implications: Studying the intersection among gender, rural isolation and diminished capacity in post-conflict countries will enhance understanding of (extension service) capacity in settings with multiple drivers affecting gender inequalities. Originality: Improve the overall understanding of how compounding factors such as gender and place effect extension service access and the ability of farmers to adapt to change, in Liberia and other post-conflict settings.

Gender disparity in cassava farmers access to agricultural productive resources in Rongo Sub County, Migori County, Kenya

“…The Chi-square analysis indicate that there is a significant relationship between agricultural extension services (χ2 = 19.628; df = 1; p = 0.000). This finding agrees with Williams and Taron (2020) and Forbang et al (2019) who observed gender disparity in accessing agricultural extension service delivery. To a great extent, female agricultural extension agents are few in the study locale.…”

“…To a great extent, female agricultural extension agents are few in the study locale. Respondents cited comfort when extension agent of the same gender delivers extension services as supported by Williams and Taron (2020) who indicated the same scenarios in agricultural extension services. A female farmer remarked in an FGD discussion that:…”

“…Women face various limitations the time spent getting to land that emanate from socio-cultural, economic and demographic barriers and, surprisingly the small portions of land have access to and control over are degraded as far as soil fertility is concerned, hence further exacerbating unstable ownership. Witinok-Huber et al (2021) uncovered that women's admittance to farmland is gendered and discriminated against. Also, Anderson et al (2021) confirm a disparity in admittance to farmland by women.…”

“…Commitment of women to agricultural production continues inundate in Africa, and is projected to about 80% (Anderson et al, 2021). Uneven access and supply of agricultural useful resources is one of the contributing variables to inadequate production and yield gaps compromising smallholder farmers' expectations (Witinok-Huber et al, 2021). However, current interventions keep on remaining impaired in tending to inconsistent access and authority over agricultural useful resources (Ankrah et al, 2020).…”

Climate Change and Gender in Africa: A Review of Impact and Gender-Responsive Solutions

“…Women have poor access to training, extension services, and technology necessary for effective adaptation to the impacts of climate change (Witinok-Huber et al, 2021). Moreover, constraints to technology adoption among women are evident across stages of technology adoption, which include awareness, testing, and continued adoption (Oyetunde- Usman et al, 2021).…”