Gender, Land, and Livelihoods in East Africa: Through farmers eyes

World Bank Discussion Paper 230. Based on four country studies and extensive household surveys, this paper documents the breakdown of traditional farming systems in Sub- Saharan Africa and its implications for the role of women in agriculture.

Conference papers, rural women, farmers, economic role in farming and rural development, Mali, Sahel - sexual division of labour in food production, development projects covering female extension services, agricultural training, womens organization, functional literacy, rural cooperative organisation, choice of technologys, and the Lorena fuel saving stove. Bibliography, photographs, statistical tables.

First published in 1996. In what ways have women contributed to agriculture? To what extent have scholars addressed these contributions in the professional literature? What has been the impact of gender in agricultural policy and economic development? What is the status of gender equity in the division of farm labor and in agricultural education? Such questions are raised by students and researchers worldwide who seek documentation which focuses on these vital topics. The purpose of this bibliography is, therefore, to synthesize this unique widely dispersed information in one volume, to assist researchers, faculty, and students in expediting the research process.

This paper reviews the major aspects of African women's contribution to food and cash crop production and offers some suggestions to improve their participation in intensification in the smallholder sector. An examination of the sexual division of labor shows that so-called "traditional" patterns have given way to expediency with women involved in all aspects of production either routinely or when male labor is unavailable due to a change in marital status or to out-migration. The semi-autonomous nature of women within the household and the diverse types of households are detailed in order to show the diverse responsibilities of men and women for the procurement of food and other commodities. Although some women earn a good living from agriculture and can assure family food security and/or generate surplus sales, most women tend to be among the lower resource farmers. This is not because they are deficient in farming skills, but because they lack access to labor, land, credit, training, and mechanization, especially in years of agricultural intensification. Stereotypes about women's place often prevent planners and implementors of development projects from incorporating women into plans and programs. Furthermore, agricultural intensification may increase the time women have to spend in farming without providing adequate remuneration. In order to include women in agricultural intensification, certain solutions are given such as disaggregating data by gender, recognizing intrahoushold dynamics in farming research and extension, studying farming roles, reorienting training and extension programs, mainstreaming income generation projects, intensifying capitalization schemes, and researching the farming enterprises associated with women.

This book contributes to the understanding of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa through addressing the dynamics of intensification and diversification within and outside agriculture in contexts where women have much poorer access to agrarian resources than men

Operational guidelines on how to provide cost- effective agricultural extension services to women farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This book examines gender relations to land relations that are crucial to formulating policies through which African women's food producing capabilities can be advanced. It addresses the need to document historical changes in land tenure practices that have influenced women's household production.

There is a growing recognition of agriculture's potential to spur growth and reduce poverty in Africa. Agriculture accounts for one-third of the continent's gross domestic product (GDP), and two-thirds of its citizens rely on the sector for their incomes. Investments in agriculture will hence not only improve productivity and the continent's ability to feed a growing population, but will also lift families out of poverty. Over 90 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's extreme poor are engaged in agriculture, and growth originating in the sector is 2-4 times more effective at directly reducing poverty than growth originating in other sectors. Yet agriculture in Africa has not fulfilled its potential, suffering from a lack of investment and insufficient attention from policy-makers. A key hindrance to agricultural development and broader growth is a wide and pervasive gender gap in agricultural productivity. Women comprise nearly half of the labor force in Africa's agriculture sector, and more than half in several countries, but on the whole they produce less per hectare than men. Existing evidence from small-scale studies across the continent documents the numerous disadvantages that women face in accessing the same resources, training, markets and opportunities as men. They also face ingrained norms and institutional barriers that further widen the gap. Tackling the barriers that hold back the productivity of female farmers could both enhance gender equality and usher in broader economic growth. The African Union has declared 2014 to be the 'year of agriculture and food security', bringing much needed attention to the sector's potential to transform the continent. This is an opportunity not only to revitalize the agriculture sector, but to rally African governments and development organizations to commit to concrete policy action to redress the inequalities within the sector, and in so doing to reap greater rewards from future investments.