TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya

Research looking at the gender gap in uptake of agricultural technologies often assumes that men and women make farm management decisions as individuals. In fact, relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making for plot management within dual-adult households. This...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Voss, Rachel C., Gitonga, Zachary, Donovan, Jason A., Garcia Medina, Mariana, Muindi, Pauline
Formato: Ponencia
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/125643
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author Voss, Rachel C.
Gitonga, Zachary
Donovan, Jason A.
Garcia Medina, Mariana
Muindi, Pauline
author_browse Donovan, Jason A.
Garcia Medina, Mariana
Gitonga, Zachary
Muindi, Pauline
Voss, Rachel C.
author_facet Voss, Rachel C.
Gitonga, Zachary
Donovan, Jason A.
Garcia Medina, Mariana
Muindi, Pauline
author_sort Voss, Rachel C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Research looking at the gender gap in uptake of agricultural technologies often assumes that men and women make farm management decisions as individuals. In fact, relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making for plot management within dual-adult households. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making structures related to maize production in over 600 spousal-couple households in Kenya. The results indicate a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions—notably those related to purchased inputs—are more often controlled by men, while other decisions—including those related to hiring of labor and deciding how harvested maize will be used—are disproportionately controlled by women. The high prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men's and women's priorities, needs, and constraints are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to breeding, seed systems, capacity building, and agricultural extension. Furthermore, evidence that men disproportionately control the decisions that most directly impact maize production potential, and that the rationales behind decision-making structures differ according to respondent gender, point to the relevance of gender-transformative approaches that increase respect for women's knowledge and build their influence over decisions that impact production potential directly.
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language Inglés
publishDate 2022
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publisher International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
publisherStr International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
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spelling CGSpace1256432025-12-08T10:11:39Z TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya Voss, Rachel C. Gitonga, Zachary Donovan, Jason A. Garcia Medina, Mariana Muindi, Pauline gender agriculture Research looking at the gender gap in uptake of agricultural technologies often assumes that men and women make farm management decisions as individuals. In fact, relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making for plot management within dual-adult households. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making structures related to maize production in over 600 spousal-couple households in Kenya. The results indicate a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions—notably those related to purchased inputs—are more often controlled by men, while other decisions—including those related to hiring of labor and deciding how harvested maize will be used—are disproportionately controlled by women. The high prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men's and women's priorities, needs, and constraints are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to breeding, seed systems, capacity building, and agricultural extension. Furthermore, evidence that men disproportionately control the decisions that most directly impact maize production potential, and that the rationales behind decision-making structures differ according to respondent gender, point to the relevance of gender-transformative approaches that increase respect for women's knowledge and build their influence over decisions that impact production potential directly. 2022-10 2022-11-23T06:52:15Z 2022-11-23T06:52:15Z Presentation https://hdl.handle.net/10568/125643 en Open Access application/pdf International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Voss, Rachel; Gitonga, Zachary; Donovan, Jason; Garcia Medina, Mariana; Muindi, Pauline. 2022. Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya. Presented a the CGIAR GENDER Science Exchange, Nairobi, 12-14 October 2022. : CIMMYT
spellingShingle gender
agriculture
Voss, Rachel C.
Gitonga, Zachary
Donovan, Jason A.
Garcia Medina, Mariana
Muindi, Pauline
TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya
title TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya
title_full TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya
title_fullStr TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya
title_short TH1.1: Can I speak to the manager? Unpacking intrahousehold decision-making in maize production in Kenya
title_sort th1 1 can i speak to the manager unpacking intrahousehold decision making in maize production in kenya
topic gender
agriculture
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/125643
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