Gender Analysis of Sweet Potato Production in Ghana

Gender issues have become key in agricultural research and activities mostly focusing on the differences between sexes in production. The Ghanaian traditional setting perceives farming as a man’s world due to its tedious and laborious nature. Gender distribution along the sweet potato value chain is vital in modern research as it affects adoption of technologies and output. This study cuts across various stages in sweet potato production with emphasis on gender analysis at various levels in production in 4 districts (Bawku municipal, Kwahu East, Twifo Ati Mokwa and Akatsi South) with total sample size of 120 farmers obtained through multi-stage sampling.

Amengor, E. N.; Yeboah, H.; Fordjour, E. K.; Acheampong, P. P.; Adu, J. O.; Frimpong, N. B.; Adofo, K.; Sagoe, R.

2016

English

Gender issues have become key in agricultural research and activities mostly focusing on the differences between sexes in production. The Ghanaian traditional setting perceives farming as a man’s world due to its tedious and laborious nature. Gender distribution along the sweet potato value chain is vital in modern research as it affects adoption of technologies and output. This study cuts across various stages in sweet potato production with emphasis on gender analysis at various levels in production in 4 districts (Bawku municipal, Kwahu East, Twifo Ati Mokwa and Akatsi South) with total sample size of 120 farmers obtained through multi-stage sampling. Data was gathered from sweet potato farmers using both qualitative (community level discussion and key informant interviews) and quantitative techniques (structured questionnaire administration). 69% of farmers sampled were males, 68% had varied levels of education, 83% married and they fell within the age range of 23 and 67 years with a mean of 44 years. Six (6) major activities identified in this study were land preparation, planting, weed control, fertilizer application, harvesting/packaging and marketing. Males dominated in land preparation and planting, whereas females dominated in weed control, fertilizer application, harvesting and marketing with across variable and location mean of 51.4% and 48.6% for males and females respectively. 61.9% had awareness of improved sweet potato varieties out of which 21% were growing one or more of improved varieties; an indication of low adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties. Adoption rate in males (23.7%) was higher than the adoption rate in females (18.3%). It is recommended thereof that; sweetpotato farming be mechanized; subsidies in the form of fertilizer and other agro inputs should be given to female sweetpotato farmers; sweetpotato farmers should be taken through modern and good agricultural practices to enhance production output and encourage more women in sweetpotato production.