Gender and the conservation of traditional crop varieties: the case of traditional sorghum in Agago District, Uganda
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AgriGender Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security
Abstract
This study examines the roles men and women play in the cultivation, processing, and marketing of traditional
sorghum varieties and gendered trait preferences as they relate to the continued existence of these
varieties in Agago District. The study utilized primary data which was collected through a survey and focus
group discussions. The results suggest that continued production and utilization of traditional sorghum is a
result of the efforts of both men and women, although the general labor burden fell on women. There was
a differential preference for the traditional sorghum characteristics of market, taste, storage, threshing, and
milling by gender. Technology advancements in processing ease women's time constraints and could result in
the conservation of di cult-to-process varieties that otherwise possess good traits. Lastly, a gender dimension
should be included in future strategies to understand the conservation of varieties as well as the adoption of
improved sorghums.
Description
Keywords
On-Farm Conservation, Sorghum Varieties, Gender Roles, Gendered Traits, Traditional Crops
Citation
Businge, M., Odong, T. L., & Miiro, R. (2020). Gender and the conservation of traditional crop varieties: the case of traditional sorghum in Agago District, Uganda. AgriGender J Gender Agric Food Secur, 5, 28-40. doi:10.19268/JGAFS.512020.3