Seed Potato Production Business through a Gender Lens
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Gender and Women’s Studies
Abstract
Potato (Solanumtuberosum) is an important crop in highland areas of South Western and
Eastern Uganda. Seed potato business is a key input for increasing potato productivity and
contributes to people livelihood. Attempts to increase seed potato production and its
contribution to livelihoods of men and women have not addressed a gap in seed demand
and on its contributions to incomes of the farming households. Seed producers and
research provides 0.15 % of the total seed potato required. This has partly been attributed
to lack of involvement of men and women in seed potato production business, leading to
low yields averaging 7.5 t/ha. This research aimed at finding out factors affecting
involvement of men and women in seed potato business. Questionnaires, focus group and
individual interviews of key informants were conducted involving men and women
selected from 3 different locations. Results indicated that men are more involved in seed
potato production, own more capital resources, and are mostly head household giving
them an upper hand in decision making. Most men tended to engage in key activities
leading to preparation for marketing. This gives them an opportunity to negotiated for
market prices, sell and receive cash on behalf of their wives. Women tended to concentrate
in domestic responsibilities such as feed the family. Women refrained from engaging in key
activities in the seed potato business, which undermines the benefits that accrue to them.
Description
Keywords
Gender, Constraints, Opportunities, Seed-potato, Production, Participation
Citation
Etiang, J, Mwesige R, Kyarisiima S, Aheisibwe A, Gerald K, Muhereze R, Kutesa RA, Barekye A. Seed Potato Production Business through a Gender Lens. Gender and Women’s Studies. 2019; 2(2):5.