Reducing gender gaps in the awareness and uptake of drought-tolerant maize in Uganda: The role of education, extension services and social networks
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender)
Abstract
Cultivation of drought-tolerant (DT) maize seed reduces drought risk in sub-Saharan Africa. Data from eastern
Uganda reveal gender gaps in awareness and adoption of DT maize. Among surveyed male household
heads, 67.6 percent had awareness of DT maize varieties and 29.2 percent grew them. Corresponding gures
for female household heads were 43.3 percent (awareness) and 5.3 percent (adoption) and those for wives
in spousal couple households were 51.0 percent and 11.1 percent. Propensity score matching (PSM) found
that awareness of the technology has a decisive role in DT maize adoption. Regression analysis indicated
that education exerts the greatest in
uence on agricultural technology awareness for female household heads,
while social networks matter most for wives of male household heads. Policies leading to gender equity in
access to education and agricultural information resources would give women farmers similar awareness of
DT maize seed as men farmers and reduce the gender technology gap.
Description
Keywords
Adaptation, Africa, Agricultural Technology, Climate Change, Gender
Citation
Fisher, M., Habte, E., Ekere, W., Abate, T., & Lewin, P. A. (2019). Reducing gender gaps in the awareness and uptake of drought-tolerant maize in Uganda: The role of education, extension services and social networks. Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender), 4(302-2020-394), 38-50. doi:10.19268/JGAFS.412019.4