Gender disparities in adoption of climate smart agriculture among potato producers in Ol-Kalau Sub County, Nyandarua County, Kenya

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study on gender disparities in adoption of climate smart agriculture practices among potato producers in Nyandarua County, Kenya. The study specifically sought to investigate how gender disparities has led to non-adoption of Women to climate smart technologies like the men. The study objectives were: to examine how men and Women participate in decision making on choice of CSA technologies, to detennine how men and women adopt CSA technologies, to analyze how men and women access to extension information and to detennine how men and Women participate in supply of labour in implementation of CSA technologies on seed potato production in Ol-kalau sub-county, Nyandarua county. A case study research design was used, data Was collected using closed ended questionnaire and Kll. Stratified random sampling was used to select sample size of 130 men and women respondents. The instrument was piloted in Njoro sub-county. A coefficient of 0.82 was obtained indicating the instrument was reliable as it was above the required threshold of 0.7. Data Was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings indicated that male farmers dominated in decision making more than female fanners. This was because in Africa men are the head of households and thus, they make decisions more than Women with mean difference of 0.918. There was a significant gender difference in the farmers adoption of CSA technologies with male faimers dominating in almost all activities. Male farmers sought extension information through the media more than their female farmers counterparts. Financial services are major reasons Why most Women farmers have not adopted CSA practices. Women farmers were significantly more involved in the supply of labor during planting, harvesting, sorting and grading. While male farmers dominated in the supply of labor dLu"ing land preparation, pest and disease control, soil and water conservation, packaging and transportation. The study recommends that Women farmers should be empowered to participate in decision making by supporting them access capital, knowledge and take part in CSA capacity building activities. Government, NGOS, should support both gender in adoption of CSA practices. Information on CSA should be made more accessible to both genders Without bias through the mass media with consideration of women’s triple gender roles. Women should be encouraged to contribute more in the provision of labor supply in CSA seed potato practices (i.e. use of mechanization).