Title: Assessing gender asset-gap in agricultural development in Kenya: a comparative study of smallholder dairy farmers

Authors: Dave Nyongesa; Christine Kanee Mutoni; Olivia Njiri; Jane Njeri Ngugi

Addresses: Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute, Katumani Research Centre, P.O. Box 340-90100, Machakos, Kenya ' Department of Biochemistry, Karatina University, P.O. Box 1957-10101, Karatina, Kenya ' Department of Biological Sciences, Chuka University, P.O. Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya ' KAPAP Research Programme, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, P.O. Box 8073-00200, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: This paper assesses and compares impact of gender asset-gap among smallholder dairy farmers in Uasin Gishu and Meru Counties. It uses geographical positioning system and geographical information systems in its sampling process. Data collection and analysis encompasses questionnaire administration, descriptive statistics and gender analyses. Most of the households in Uasin Gishu and Meru (73% and 68% respectively) are male-headed and managed. The female-headed and managed are 17% and 16% while the youth-headed and managed are 10% and 16%, respectively. Across gender-cadres, males own more land and are better educated than both females and youths. Decision-making on land control, access and use of proceeds from both crops and livestock is dominated by men. Men get more milk (litres/animal/day) in both seasons than women and youths. Invariably gender asset-gap is critical in agricultural development.

Keywords: land ownership; gender; education levels; land control; land access; assets; crops; agriculture; income; dairy cattle; milk; farm labour; decision making; livelihoods; agricultural development; Kenya; smallholders; dairy farmers; geographical positioning systems; GPS; geographical information systems; GIS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2016.078299

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2016 Vol.12 No.3, pp.226 - 245

Received: 11 Jul 2015
Accepted: 29 Feb 2016
Published online: 14 Aug 2016 *

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