Abstract: The overall objective of this paper was to investigate trends, status of cash cropping and its implication on gender division of roles in agricultural production. It has also further aimed to examine trends of decision making power on household resources. It has made use of primary and secondary data sources and 117 households were selected through systematic random sampling. Mix of qualitative (context analysis and narration) and quantitative (simple descriptive statistical tools) data analysis method was employed. The study was conducted on the basis of a premise that there are changes in gender division of roles due to the expansion of cash cropping patterns in the study area. The study discloses that traditionally, coffee production belongs to men since it generates the necessary income while being sold in the local market but women have no role at all. However, with the expansion of the market for coffee production men began to look at woman’s labor and in effect the involvement of women seems to have increased in the sector. The finding of this particular study further implies that despite their labor share in the sector, women have limited access to and control over the dominant cash crop in the community, coffee production, which in turn limited their access to capital. Therefore, the concerned stakeholder should work hard and exert coordinated efforts to harness gender disparity in the cash cropping sector to the end achieve gender equality and equity in the agricultural sector.Abstract: The overall objective of this paper was to investigate trends, status of cash cropping and its implication on gender division of roles in agricultural production. It has also further aimed to examine trends of decision making power on household resources. It has made use of primary and secondary data sources and 117 households were selected through...Show More
Abstract: Climate induced famine has had adverse effects and has been the worst disaster from which most resettled farmers experience and suffer from. It remains a topical agenda and a bone of contention in most countries of the global south. Despite remaining a challenge in most farming areas, the small holder farmers have struggled to come up with alternative livelihoods emanating from effective understanding of climate change. Hence using data from interviews, questionnaires and focused group discussions, this paper aimed at unravelling rural livelihoods which enhance local people’s understanding and grasping of the effects of climate change induced disasters in Mhondoro- Ngezi district. The study noted that smallholder farmers are applying conservation farming (CF), small livestock production, irrigation schemes like gardening, agro-forestry, gold panning and fishing. The research also pointed out that 62% of the local farmers were not satisfied with the level knowledge base they have concerning climate change. The snail pace development of a knowledge base on climate change is being held back by challenges which include poor service delivery by government departments, lack of resources, unclear selection of beneficiaries, extreme reliance on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and policy inconsistency. The study recommended that agricultural extension officers need to be capacitated so that they train farmers on the importance of seasonal climate change forecast information. There is need for increased participation in the realm of development agencies (NGOs and government) and be more sincere with the participation of communities through the development of a knowledge base on climate change adaptation programmes.Abstract: Climate induced famine has had adverse effects and has been the worst disaster from which most resettled farmers experience and suffer from. It remains a topical agenda and a bone of contention in most countries of the global south. Despite remaining a challenge in most farming areas, the small holder farmers have struggled to come up with alternat...Show More
