Can I speak to the manager? The gender dynamics of decision-making in Kenyan maize plots

Gender and social inclusion efforts in agricultural development are focused on making uptake of agricultural technologies more equitable. Yet research looking at how gender relations influence technology uptake often assumes that men and women within a household make farm management decisions as individuals. Relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making within dual-adult households where individuals’ management choices are likely influenced by others in the household. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making related to maize plot management in 698 dual-adult households in rural Kenya. The results indicated a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions—notably those related to purchased inputs—were slightly more likely to be controlled by men, while other decisions—including those related to hiring of labor and maize end uses—were more likely to be made by women. The prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men’s and women’s priorities and needs are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to seed systems, farmer capacity building, and input delivery

Role of hybrid maize adoption on food security in Kenya: an application of two-step generalized method of moments (gmm2s)

Kenya has made significant strides in developing hybrid maize varieties and is considered a success story in the region. The number of hybrid varieties released per year has been increasing but average maize yields and consumption have been declining resulting to food insecurity in both urban and rural areas. Past studies evaluated the impact of hybrid maize on income inequality and poverty but none on food security impact in Kenya. This paper used representative data from 1344 households to answer this question. Three food security indicators are considered: Months of adequate household food provisioning (MAHFP), household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) scores and household food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP). The paper applies two step gmm2s specification and corresponding tests for relevance and validity of the instruments. Household food insecurity prevalence is assessed using generalized ordered logit model. Food security increase with hybrid maize adoption, maize sales, wealth, education, access to financial services and irrigation water but decline with household size. Food security also vary with agro ecological zones. Hybrid maize adoption reduces the risk of being moderately and severely food insecure by 5% and 13% respectively. Results suggest the need for policies that enhance hybrid seed adoption, surplus production, education, improve welfare and promote family planning

Can climate information salvage livelihoods in arid and semiarid lands? : an evaluation of access, use and impact in Namibia

The study evaluates the impact of climate information on adaptive capacity and food security. The survey of 653 households showed that half of the households receiving climate information rated it as insufficient for decision-making, and relied on traditional knowledge. The main channels were radio and farmer’s peers, but trust was low. Effective response to climate information for risk mitigation will require enhanced community awareness of available adaptive choices, development of market value chains, institutional support like extension services, and improvement of rural road and communication infrastructure

Assessment of Metal Silo Business Up-Take among the CIMMYT-Trained Artisans in Kenya

This paper establishes level of up-take of the business opportunities provided by the metal silos technology among the artisans who were trained on how to make metal silos. It also assesses the factors that determine the practice of the metal silo business among the trained artisans. A third of the artisans takes orders directly from individual farmers, grain traders, institutions, etc and makes metal silos at their own workshops, a third does not engage in metal silos business at all while a third is normally hired by the first category. The likelihood to make metal silos either at own workshop or as a hired artisan reduces with age while the same increases with years of experience in technical work. The likelihood to make silos at own workshops also increases with ownership of a workshop before training, running a workshop as the primary occupation and metal work as the main professional training for the artisans