Gendered analysis of rice product profiles, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Rice varieties are distinguished by characteristics which may differ depending on the farmers' preferences, rice cooking and consumption habits, environmental conditions, and water management's practices. These characteristics explain adoption of new varieties; hence incorporating gendered preferred varietal characteristics can support modern breeding achieve its adoption targets. The gendered traits were assessed through a qualitative approach in five rice production areas in Cote d’Ivoire, representing the product profiles for DELS_U market segment in upland ecology (Korhogo, Odienné), TELS_R, TMeLS_R in rainfed lowland ecology (Odiénné, Gagnoa) and TELS_I in irrigated lowland (Gagnoa, Daloa, Yamoussoukro).

Results show similar preferences for levels associated agronomic traits such as early maturing, medium plant height, bird control, resistance to diseases and insects. In rainfed systems, drought tolerance is additionally essential, while in rainfed lowland ecology, flood tolerance/submergence is required. Common milling and consumer traits include milling return, length, texture, taste, aroma and amylose content. Gendered differences are reflected, for instance while men, prefer high yielding varieties, which is not the case for women. Beyond gender, social differences were noted: the upper class/urban prefer premium rice that brings together aromatic varieties, with long and fine grains, with a good taste, tender and soft, with a lesser cooking time while the low social class in rural areas prioritise swelling capacity. A focus on agronomic, traits reveals benefits associated with productivity-enhancement including ability to participate in better markets and the resulting better prices and incomes, however the difficult access to labor was noted to increase drudgery, especially to women.