The use of modern seed varieties and other improved technologies is essential for farmers to
significantly increase their crop harvest and improve their livelihoods. All over Sub-Saharan
Africa, agriculture productivity growth has remained very low over many decades
irrespective of gender of the farmer. However, studies have shown that women farmers fare
worse than the male counterparts in terms of adoption of improved technology and
productivity. This gender gap in technology adoption curtails agricultural development
because women in developing countries such as Zambia play a significant role in agriculture
and food production.
Although there are many studies on technology adoption and productivity difference by
gender, the links between gender and productivity is likely to vary across cultures and over
time, hence the need to carry out this study in the Zambian context. Some studies have found
that productivity differences between men and women could be explained by the difference
in the rate of adoption of improved technology, the intensity with which the inputs are used
as well as resource differences.