Gender-transformative agricultural experimentation and decision-making: Piloting GALS tools in Tanzania

Farnworth, C.R.; Fischer, G.; Rugalabam, J.; Islahi, Z.S.

doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2023.102836

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 31 publications

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“…Challenging men's traditional role as breadwinners without creating win-win situations can lead to increase gender-based violence, potentially break up relationships, and marginalize women agripreneurs within the community (Coles and Mitchell, 2010;Farnworth et al, 2018a;FAO et al, 2023b). To help manage this conundrum, a number of behavioral strategies specifically designed to support gender-normative change in non-threatening ways have been developed and could be deployed at the community level and with value chain actors (Farnworth et al, 2018b(Farnworth et al, , 2022(Farnworth et al, , 2023Ambler et al, 2021;Lecoutere and Van Campenhout, 2023). These can be complemented by making best use of information and communication technologies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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.

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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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