Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya

Inadequate and poor-quality feed resources constrain livestock production that compromises the livelihoods dependent on livestock in low- and middle-income countries. Several forage varieties have been developed, targeting smallholder farmers in developing countries, yet the level of adoption remain...

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Autores principales: Njiru, Nelly, Galiè, Alessandra, Wanyoike, Francis N., Mashonganyika, Tawanda, Boonabaana, Brenda, Bisikwa, Jeniffer, Njuguna-Mungai, Esther, Jones, Christopher S., Baltenweck, Isabelle
Formato: Póster
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Livestock Research Institute 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136929
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author Njiru, Nelly
Galiè, Alessandra
Wanyoike, Francis N.
Mashonganyika, Tawanda
Boonabaana, Brenda
Bisikwa, Jeniffer
Njuguna-Mungai, Esther
Jones, Christopher S.
Baltenweck, Isabelle
author_browse Baltenweck, Isabelle
Bisikwa, Jeniffer
Boonabaana, Brenda
Galiè, Alessandra
Jones, Christopher S.
Mashonganyika, Tawanda
Njiru, Nelly
Njuguna-Mungai, Esther
Wanyoike, Francis N.
author_facet Njiru, Nelly
Galiè, Alessandra
Wanyoike, Francis N.
Mashonganyika, Tawanda
Boonabaana, Brenda
Bisikwa, Jeniffer
Njuguna-Mungai, Esther
Jones, Christopher S.
Baltenweck, Isabelle
author_sort Njiru, Nelly
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Inadequate and poor-quality feed resources constrain livestock production that compromises the livelihoods dependent on livestock in low- and middle-income countries. Several forage varieties have been developed, targeting smallholder farmers in developing countries, yet the level of adoption remains low, particularly among women farmers. Adoption of varieties could enhance livelihoods by increasing livestock productivity and by providing income from the sale of surplus forage. Evidence on gendered barriers to, and incentives for, adoption of forage varieties is scarce. We explored the gender dynamics influencing uptake and commercialization of the Brachiaria grass forage variety among women and men farmers in four subcounties in Kenya. Data from 260 individuals, belonging to a household where at least one individual is a member of a dairy cooperative, were collected. Also, 16 single-sex focus group discussions and eight key informant interviews were undertaken. Results revealed Brachiaria grass is accessible to women and men. Dairy cooperatives are critical for women and men to access extension services, useful information, and planting materials, but only a few women are cooperative members. Men are constrained by small land areas, rather than the ownership and access problems that constrain women. These challenges privilege men while subordinating women and disenfranchizing them in terms of adopting this technology. Pathways for women’s and men’s empowerment exist through the sale of planting materials, hay bales, and an increased volume of milk obtained when cows are fed with Brachiaria. However, gender norms that reduce women’s engagement with cooperatives, and their access to and control over land, should be challenged.
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publishDate 2023
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publisherStr International Livestock Research Institute
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spelling CGSpace1369292025-11-04T17:52:24Z Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya Njiru, Nelly Galiè, Alessandra Wanyoike, Francis N. Mashonganyika, Tawanda Boonabaana, Brenda Bisikwa, Jeniffer Njuguna-Mungai, Esther Jones, Christopher S. Baltenweck, Isabelle gender agriculture research gender relations innovation adoption forage Inadequate and poor-quality feed resources constrain livestock production that compromises the livelihoods dependent on livestock in low- and middle-income countries. Several forage varieties have been developed, targeting smallholder farmers in developing countries, yet the level of adoption remains low, particularly among women farmers. Adoption of varieties could enhance livelihoods by increasing livestock productivity and by providing income from the sale of surplus forage. Evidence on gendered barriers to, and incentives for, adoption of forage varieties is scarce. We explored the gender dynamics influencing uptake and commercialization of the Brachiaria grass forage variety among women and men farmers in four subcounties in Kenya. Data from 260 individuals, belonging to a household where at least one individual is a member of a dairy cooperative, were collected. Also, 16 single-sex focus group discussions and eight key informant interviews were undertaken. Results revealed Brachiaria grass is accessible to women and men. Dairy cooperatives are critical for women and men to access extension services, useful information, and planting materials, but only a few women are cooperative members. Men are constrained by small land areas, rather than the ownership and access problems that constrain women. These challenges privilege men while subordinating women and disenfranchizing them in terms of adopting this technology. Pathways for women’s and men’s empowerment exist through the sale of planting materials, hay bales, and an increased volume of milk obtained when cows are fed with Brachiaria. However, gender norms that reduce women’s engagement with cooperatives, and their access to and control over land, should be challenged. 2023-10-10 2024-01-04T12:46:24Z 2024-01-04T12:46:24Z Poster https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136929 en Open Access application/pdf International Livestock Research Institute Njiru, Nelly; Galiè, Alessandra; Wanyoike, Francis; Mashonganyika, Tawanda; Boonabaana, Brenda; Bisikwa, Jeniffer; Njuguna-Mungai, Esther; Jones, Christopher S.; Baltenweck, Isabelle. 2023. Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya. Poster. Presented at the CGIAR GENDER Conference 'From Research to Impact: Towards just and resilient agri-food systems', New Delhi, India, 9-12 October 2023. International Livestock Research Institute
spellingShingle gender
agriculture
research
gender relations
innovation adoption
forage
Njiru, Nelly
Galiè, Alessandra
Wanyoike, Francis N.
Mashonganyika, Tawanda
Boonabaana, Brenda
Bisikwa, Jeniffer
Njuguna-Mungai, Esther
Jones, Christopher S.
Baltenweck, Isabelle
Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya
title Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya
title_full Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya
title_fullStr Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya
title_short Gender relations in adoption of Brachiaria fodder grass in Muhoroni, Rongo, Mbooni and Kilome sub-counties in Kenya
title_sort gender relations in adoption of brachiaria fodder grass in muhoroni rongo mbooni and kilome sub counties in kenya
topic gender
agriculture
research
gender relations
innovation adoption
forage
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136929
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