Understanding collective action and women's empowerment in potato farmer groups in Ntcheu and Dedza in Malawi

Published Date
December 2015, Vol.42:91–101, doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2015.09.002

Author 

• Netsayi N. Mudege ^a,,,
• Ted Nyekanyeka ^a
• Eliya Kapalasa ^a
• Tafadzwa Chevo ^b
• Paul Demo^a

• aInternational Potato Center, Kenya
• bUniversity of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Received 13 March 2015. Revised 5 August 2015. Accepted 13 September 2015. Available online 24 October 2015.

Highlights

• We examine how gender norms impact the ability of farmer groups to empower women.
• •
  We analyse the relationship between power, responsibilities and women's participation.
• •
  Gender norms that designate men as decision makers affect women's participation.
• •
  Unequal gender division of labour in households limit involvement of women in groups.
• •
  Address underlying discriminatory gender norms to empower women through agriculture.

Abstract

This paper explores the potential for potato farmer groups to empower women in Malawi. It does this by examining how social and gender norms in communities, including the distribution of power, resources and responsibilities, may have an impact on the ability of farmer groups to empower female group participants. In total, 35 sex-disaggregated focus group discussions with farmers, and 4 interviews with extension officers were conducted in Dedza and Ntcheu districts. Data on social and gender norms that may promote or constrain the participation of both men and women in groups and limit their benefits were collected and analyzed. A social relations approach, focusing on gender relations, was used to analyze the data. A key finding was that, underlying gender and cultural norms may affect the ability of women to participate actively in groups as well as to take advantage of the empowerment potential of groups. Findings suggest that while farmer groups have the potential to empower women, reproduction of societal gender roles within groups may result in male bias, constraining the ability of groups to empower women. Key implications are that agricultural research organizations interested in women's empowerment should work closely with partners who have experience in women's empowerment because farmer group participation may not empower women if underlying social issues that result in gender inequality are not addressed.

Keywords

Malawi

Gender

Farmer groups

Agricultural extension

Empowerment

Participation

---

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

• ∗ 
  Corresponding author. International Potato Center, Sub-Sahara Africa Regional Office, ILRI Campus, Old Naivasha Road, PO Box 25171-00603, Nairobi, Kenya.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016715300231