Gender discrimination and its impact on income, productivity, and technical efficiency: evidence from Benin

Abstract

This paper examines the occurrence and impact of gender discrimination in access to production resources on the income, productivity, and technical efficiency of farmers. Through an empirical investigation of farmers from Koussin-Lélé, a semi-collective irrigated rice scheme in central Benin, we find that women farmers are particularly discriminated against with regard to scheme membership and access to land and equipment, resulting in significant negative impacts. their productivity and income. They are technically efficient as men. The findings suggest that there is considerable scope for improving the productivity of women.