Abstract
Empirical research on gender dimensions in agricultural inputs has focused on land. This chapter reviews existing microeconomic empirical literature from the past 10 years on gender differences in use, access, and adoption of nonland agricultural inputs in developing countries. The review focuses on three key areas: (1) technological resources, (2) natural resources, and (3) human resources. In general, there has been more empirical research on inorganic fertilizer, seed varieties, and extension services than on tools and mechanization and life-cycle effects, and most of the studies are from Sub-Saharan Africa. A consistent finding is that, across different types of inputs, men generally have higher input measures than women, and that this input gap is responsible for observed productivity differences between men and women; however, this finding is often sensitive to the use of models that control for other background factors, as well as the type of gender indicator implemented in the analysis. The final section presents future directions, opportunities, and recommendations for microeconomic gender analysis of nonland agricultural inputs.
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Notes
- 1.
Here, gender represents a social construction of what it means to be of the male or female sex, including cultural, ethnic, economic, religious, and ideological influences.
- 2.
We do not use a strict sample size cut-off per se but include only studies that generate descriptive statistics across gender-disaggregated subgroups.
- 3.
Although we attempt to compare and contrast findings, please note that we do not conduct a meta-analysis. Meta-analysis would necessitate a substantial number of studies examining the same types of inputs (and associated outputs), which is not an appropriate analysis because of diversity of inputs.
- 4.
As noted, the regions we compare include Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East (including North Africa), Eastern Europe, and South/Latin America. When we refer to “region-specific” trends, we lump areas of the world into these five regional categories. Throughout the chapter we sometimes refer to subregions within these five categories (for example, South Asia) or within specific countries (for example, the southern region of Zimbabwe); these instances will be specifically noted.
- 5.
We started by reviewing original research on gender inequalities in agriculture, followed by papers that cite these studies. We then conducted online searches using keywords for various inputs in each category (Google Scholar, peer-reviewed journals, and websites of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) and publication searches of websites of agricultural research organizations. We also conducted “snowball” citation techniques and sent emails to researchers in the field working on gender and agriculture within various institutions.
- 6.
- 7.
Polygamy exists in Asia, but not to the same extent as in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- 8.
Pesticides may also be organic or organic compounds synthesized in a laboratory.
- 9.
Improved wheat seed is artificially produced by cross-pollination to improve yield, uniformity, and resistance to disease.
- 10.
Stabling is a technological package consisting of a stable, a food supplement, an animal healthcare program, and an improved method of producing manure. A major benefit of stabling is increased milk production.
- 11.
Studies that examine drinking water or domestic use only are therefore not included. However, women might use drinking water for kitchen gardens or small plots for home consumption, even if it is not noted or analyzed in the study. Because the literature on any type of water use is so large, we decided to exclude these studies.
- 12.
Since irrigation often relies on water schemes or centralized infrastructure, there have been more case studies and other institutional analyses since 2000.
- 13.
The varieties in percentages refer to the differences in percentages between different zones surveyed.
- 14.
By definition, a household is considered technically efficient if no other household (or combination of households) produces more output with a similar level of inputs (Paris 1991).
- 15.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Jere Behrman, Kristin Davis, an anonymous reviewer, and participants of The State of Food and Agriculture contributors’ workshop for helpful comments on an earlier draft and to all authors who provided drafts of forthcoming work. The results presented do not reflect the institutional views of the FAO or IFPRI; all errors are our own.
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Peterman, A., Behrman, J.A., Quisumbing, A.R. (2014). A Review of Empirical Evidence on Gender Differences in Nonland Agricultural Inputs, Technology, and Services in Developing Countries. In: Quisumbing, A., Meinzen-Dick, R., Raney, T., Croppenstedt, A., Behrman, J., Peterman, A. (eds) Gender in Agriculture. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8616-4_7
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