Gender in Agroforestry: Implications for Action-Research

Abstract

Women in sub-Saharan Africa are major contributors
to the agricultural economy, but their lower access
than men to productive resources and opportunities,
limits them from achieving optimal production. This
paper gives a snapshot of issues surrounding
women’s participation in and benefits from
agroforestry, challenges that women face and
examples of opportunities to enhance their
involvement. First and foremost, we acknowledge that
women’s decision making and management power
related to production systems is complex and highly
context-specific. Despite their active involvement in
diverse agroforestry practices (e.g. management of
nitrogen-fixing and fodder trees, domestication of
indigenous fruit trees), their level of participation and
benefits are often constrained by cultural norms and
limited resources. Agroforestry value chains are
particularly important for women’s income, but again
low access to capital, technology and information,
constrains women from developing their enterprises
further. Moreover, women’s roles in value chains are
often poorly supported by policymakers (in the design
as well as in the implementation of policies) and
service providers. Interventions to help smallholders
improve the marketing of tree and agricultural
products have not always had positive effects on women, because when the business becomes more
profitable, men often tend to take over. One of the
major challenges for agricultural development,
however, remains women’s low access to extension
services. Profound reforms in African extension
systems from a centrally-controlled, top-down
approach to a more participatory and pluralistic
system, are expected to improve women’s access to
agricultural information and services. The paper ends
with some recommendations in the field of
technology, policy and institutions, to enhance
women’s participation in and benefits from
agroforestry, and agriculture in general