Women’s Knowledge and Role in Crop and Pest Management Decision Making in Eastern Uganda

CRSP:   |  Region:   |  Topic:   |  Database:
Details

Project Code:
Not Available

Start Date:
1999

End Date:
2004

CRSP Phase:
Phase 2

Budget:
Not Available

Countries:

Participants

Lead University:

Other Partners:
J. Mark Erbaugh (The Ohio State University); Magdalene Amujal (Makerere University); Samuel Kyamanywa and Adipala Ekwamu (Makerere University)

Principal Investigator(s):
J. Mark Erbaugh (The Ohio State University); Magdalene Amujal (Makerere University); Samuel Kyamanywa and Adipala Ekwamu (Makerere University)

Co-Principal Investigator(s):
J. Mark Erbaugh (The Ohio State University); Magdalene Amujal (Makerere University); Samuel Kyamanywa and Adipala Ekwamu (Makerere University)

Overview

Gender can influence knowledge acquisition and onfarm decision making and must be thoroughly understood if agricultural research and extension programs are to design appropriate technologies for small-scale farming systems. In order to improve IPM program design and delivery, two hundred farmers (52% women, 48% men) from Eastern Uganda were surveyed in 1999, to explore perceptual and knowledge differences between men and women about crop production and pest management. The results indicate that women do play an important role in agricultural production and pest management; however, there is no indication that women play a predominant role in either. There was no relationship between gender and the use of pesticides. Pest management decisions appear to be made by the household head, whether that person is a male or female. There was general agreement between men and women that although women were as likely to indicate that they were having their fields sprayed with pesticides, men were more likely to be doing the actual pesticide application. Women had greater knowledge of dimensional attributes of IPM than men, particularly awareness of potential harmful effects of synthetic pesticides. Thus targeting women may expedite adoption of IPM. Disaggregating data, particularly by ascertaining the woman’s status within the household helped provide a clearer picture of knowledge and decision making differentials.

Objectives

To explore perceptual and knowledge differences between male and female farmers of crop production and pest management in Eastern Uganda. Assessing gender differentiated knowledge of pest management to improve IPM research and technology dissemination.

Outcomes

Coming soon

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