Gender roles and constraints in cowpea and groundnut cropping: a case from Niger

Abstract

•Women are main custodian of local seeds. And whenever the word farmer is used it is mostly considered as men. •Elsewhere reported cowpea and groundnut are cash crops &women crops. Then what role men contribute in these crops? Such examinations of a farming system often leave researchers muddled by paradoxes. •This requires distinguishing between reported norms and opportunities, and actual behaviour and intentions. •This necessitates to understand what are women and men roles, preferences in the crops they cultivate, the varieties they select and the constraints faced by them to better manage risks and improve their livelihoods by diversifying the farming system and rural income. •The present paper reports the findings of gender roles, constraints and preferences in food-feed crops particularly on cowpea and groundnut in Niger