Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective

Many developing countries are experiencing a rapid expansion of supermarkets. New supermarket procurement systems could affect farming patterns and wider rural development. While previous studies have analyzed farm productivity and income effects, possible employment effects have received much less...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rao, E.J.O., Qaim, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25106
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author Rao, E.J.O.
Qaim, M.
author_browse Qaim, M.
Rao, E.J.O.
author_facet Rao, E.J.O.
Qaim, M.
author_sort Rao, E.J.O.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Many developing countries are experiencing a rapid expansion of supermarkets. New supermarket procurement systems could affect farming patterns and wider rural development. While previous studies have analyzed farm productivity and income effects, possible employment effects have received much less attention. Special supermarket requirements may entail intensified farm production and post-harvest handling, thus potentially increasing demand for hired labor. This could also have important gender implications, because female and male workers are often hired for distinct farm operations. Building on data from a recent survey of vegetable farmers in Kenya, a double-hurdle model of hired labor use is developed and estimated. Farmer participation in supermarket channels increases the likelihood of hiring labor by 20%, and demand for hired labor by 61%. A gender disaggregation shows that positive employment effects are especially pronounced for female laborers, who often belong to the most vulnerable population groups. Rural employment generation can be an important vehicle for poverty reduction.
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spelling CGSpace251062024-05-01T08:19:24Z Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective Rao, E.J.O. Qaim, M. gender Many developing countries are experiencing a rapid expansion of supermarkets. New supermarket procurement systems could affect farming patterns and wider rural development. While previous studies have analyzed farm productivity and income effects, possible employment effects have received much less attention. Special supermarket requirements may entail intensified farm production and post-harvest handling, thus potentially increasing demand for hired labor. This could also have important gender implications, because female and male workers are often hired for distinct farm operations. Building on data from a recent survey of vegetable farmers in Kenya, a double-hurdle model of hired labor use is developed and estimated. Farmer participation in supermarket channels increases the likelihood of hiring labor by 20%, and demand for hired labor by 61%. A gender disaggregation shows that positive employment effects are especially pronounced for female laborers, who often belong to the most vulnerable population groups. Rural employment generation can be an important vehicle for poverty reduction. 2013-02 2013-01-09T11:36:25Z 2013-01-09T11:36:25Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25106 en Limited Access Elsevier Rao, E.J.O. and Qaim, M. 2013. Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective. Food Policy 38: 165-176.
spellingShingle gender
Rao, E.J.O.
Qaim, M.
Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective
title Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective
title_full Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective
title_fullStr Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective
title_full_unstemmed Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective
title_short Supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in Kenya: A gendered perspective
title_sort supermarkets and agricultural labor demand in kenya a gendered perspective
topic gender
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25106
work_keys_str_mv AT raoejo supermarketsandagriculturallabordemandinkenyaagenderedperspective
AT qaimm supermarketsandagriculturallabordemandinkenyaagenderedperspective