Gender Control and Labour Input: Who Controls the Proceeds from Staple Crop Production among Zambian Farmers?

Type Working Paper
Title Gender Control and Labour Input: Who Controls the Proceeds from Staple Crop Production among Zambian Farmers?
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
URL http://econpapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:midcwp:140904
Abstract
Because gender roles and relations are dynamic, programs built on a solid up-to-date understanding of how men and women share labor responsibilities and the proceeds from their agricultural activities have the potential to bring forth positive outcomes. Better information on gender-based constraints and intra-household power dynamics form the foundation for programs that can enhance gender equity. So far, there is a lack of evidence in Zambia relating to the control of proceeds from crop production and the proportion of women contributing to agricultural labour. In the 2010 Crop Forecast Survey (CFS), a question was posed as to who was responsible for the largest respective staple crop field for over 10,000 smallholder farmers. This data provides an empirical basis for an exploratory analysis of gender control and labour input on the largest maize, cassava, and rice fields. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide basic information on intra-household gender-linked differences as well as related gender divisions of labour on the three staple crops in Zambia. Five main findings emanate from the analysis in this paper: 1. The agricultural labour activities are roughly equally split between males and females in the production of the three staples in Zambia; 2. Most of the maize, rice, and cassava fields in Zambia are controlled by men; 3. Household headship is the most important determinant of the gender of the person controlling the largest field; 4. These conclusions generally apply to both matrilineal and patrilineal areas; and 5. Finally, the proportion of maize and rice fields controlled by a man rises as the household’s degree of farm commercialization increases.

Related studies

»