1. High level National Data Forum
GENDER STATISTICS FOR POLICY AND PROGRAMMING IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR-UGANDA
Richard Ndikuryayo.
Assistant Commissioner Agricultural Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

2. High level National Data Forum
OUTLINE
Introduction (Background)
Core Gender Issues as identified in the sector
Gender Gaps
Recommendations
Areas of Research
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

3. Importance of Agricultural Statistics
They are required to underpin major government policy initiatives, including poverty eradication, sector transformation and modernization of agriculture.
Gender disaggregated agricultural data are required by a broad spectrum of stakeholders who include:
Policy, decision-makers and analysts in Government need gender disaggregated agricultural data to monitor the performance of the agricultural sector, make policy decisions and plan development programmes as well as major Government initiatives;
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

4. Importance of Agricultural Statistics (Cont…)
The private sector (investors, processors and traders) and the public at large to assess opportunities, risks and prospects in the sector; and also to help in their commercial operations
NGO’s;
Academia for research and teaching purposes;
The donor community and other international organisations need gender disaggregated agricultural data to monitor agricultural conditions, to assess requirements for assistance and/or participation in development
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

5. MAAIF VISION, MISSION and MANDATE
A competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector
Vision
To transform subsistence farming to commercial agriculture
Mandate
To support, promote and guide the production of crops; livestock and fish, in order to ensure improved quality and increased quantity of agricultural produce and products for local consumption, food security and export
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

6. High level National Data Forum
Subsistence Farming
Need for the Sector to work much harder (69% in subsistence).
Among households headed by subsistence farmers, the percentage of the poor increased from 20.3% to 38.2% between 2012/13 and 2016/17 surveys.
Poverty increased from 23% to 36% among those reporting crop/subsistence farming as their main source of income (worsening situation).
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

7. High level National Data Forum
Proportions of persons engaged in only subsistence agriculture is increasing
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

8. Community Perception why the worsening situation
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

9. Source of Income for Households
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

10. SUBSISTENCE FARMING (Main Source of Earning)
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

11. Population Size and Composition
Uganda’s population is estimated at 37.7 million of which 52 percent are females.
Three in every ten households (31%) are headed by females (UNHS 2016/17).
Over 80% of Uganda’s populations live in the rural areas and agriculture is their main source of livelihoods.
Women constitute 76% of agriculture labor force compared to 65% of men, and subsistence farming is, by far, the main source of employment.
35% of those employed in agriculture are unpaid family workers, a fact that increases women´s double work burden that limit and constrain women’s employment in the agriculture sector
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

12. CORE GENDER ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE
Division of Labour
Land Ownership and Control
Decision Making
Soil and Water Conservation Activities
Apiculture
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

13. CORE GENDER ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing
Irrigation
GENDER GAPS IN AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES
AREAS OF FURTHER RESEARCH
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

14. 1 Gender Issues under Division of Labour
Division of labour in Uganda varies by region and farming system.
Predominantly male tasks include the felling of trees, ploughing with oxen or tractors, digging holes, the purchase and use of chemicals, looking for markets and the sale of produce.
Women usually undertake sowing, harvesting, head carrying of produce, crop-drying, winnowing, seed selection, pig and poultry-rearing.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

15. 1 Gender Issues under Division of Labour
Other tasks, such as weeding, bagging and crop storage, are almost equally undertaken by both women and men.
It is estimated that women do 85% of the planting, 85% of the weeding, 55% of land preparation and 98% of all food processing.
However, decisions to market are usually made by men (70%), and those made jointly (15%).
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

16. 1 Gender Issues under Land Ownership and Control …..
In rural areas, it is estimated that women's workloads considerably exceed those of men.
Traditionally, men tend to be responsible for the cash crops, but much of male labour is withdrawn if those crops decrease in profitability.
Division of labour in agriculture is dynamic and subject to change.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

17. 2 Gender Issues under Land Ownership and Control
81 % of the female labour force and 67 % of men work in the agricultural sector.
Despite the main role played by women in agriculture, it is estimated that only 7 % of them own and control the use of land.
Women’s rights tend to be limited to access, whereas men enjoy the ownership rights and ultimately control the proceeds from the land.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

18. 2 Gender Issues under Land Ownership and Control (cont..)
Women working in agriculture are more likely not to be paid than those working in non-agricultural work (36 % compared with 4 %).
Field information collected by MAAIF indicates that gender issues are contentious at community level.
Generally, men were of the view that, “when women control income/money/land they become difficult to manage.”
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

19. 2.4 Gender Issues in Soil and Water Conservation Activities
Soil conservation refers to a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the surface of the earth.
Both men and women farmers hardly maintain soil and water conservation practices in their fields.
Major gender issues under soil and water conservation include:
Low adoption of soil and water conservation activities by female and male farmers
Negative attitudes, knowledge and perceptions about soil and water conservation structures at community level
Property rights/ownership over land constrains women participation in soil conservation activities.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

20. 2.3 Gender Issues in Decision Making
49 % of women lack access to or decision-making ability over credit.
Decisions to market are usually made by men (70%), and those made jointly (15%).
More than 21 % lack sole or joint decision-making authority over income.
Men report relatively less disempowerment in decision-making over income and are more in community leadership than women.

21. 2.4 Gender Issues in Soil and Water Conservation Activities
Soil conservation refers to a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the surface of the earth.
Both men and women farmers hardly maintain soil and water conservation practices in their fields.
Major gender issues under soil and water conservation include:
Low adoption of soil and water conservation activities by female and male farmers
Negative attitudes, knowledge and perceptions about soil and water conservation structures at community level
Property rights/ownership over land constrains women participation in soil conservation activities.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

22. 2.5 Gender Issues in Apiculture
At community level, bee keeping is largely a male dominated activity and women play minimal roles.
The following gender issues are therefore
evident:
Limited participation of women in bee keeping because of traditional norms.
Limited control of resources from sale of honey and honey products.
Most women lack resources to invest in buying improved bee hives that are convenient for them.
Lack of gender friendly costumes for handling bees
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

23. 2.6 Gender Issues in Agricultural Marketing
Despite major roles played by women in production, they are grossly under-represented in marketing.
Low education/literacy levels of women (depending on district ranges between 35% - 55%) make them fear to get involved in marketing.
Many women do not know how to count money and fear to be cheated or to register losses during transactions.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

24. 2.6 Gender Issues in Agricultural Marketing…
Workloads limit women’s participation in training and marketing activities.
Poor numeracy skills limit women’s participation in marketing.
Negative Cultures (stereotypes) limit women’s participation in marketing.
Mistrust in financial matters discourage men and women farmers to form marketing groups
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

25. GENDER GAPS IN AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA
Low participation of women in irrigation activities (33%).
Preference for individual water harvesting technologies by women.
Limited knowledge and skills by men and women to operate and maintain irrigation schemes.
Few women (10-15%) use oxen ploughs during cultivation.
Lack of control of income by women belonging to irrigation scheme associations (husbands go behind and request for the income from the association).
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

26. GENDER GAPS IN AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA
Generally, ownership of agricultural production resources is male dominated and wide disparities between male and female exist.
This is more pronounced in rural areas where women have less income, smaller pieces of land and lack market for their produce.
Approximately, 30% of women have access and control over proceeds after marketing agricultural produce.
The majority of women are typically illiterate. They have neither basic education nor appropriate technical skills, despite the Government policy of education for all
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

27. GENDER GAPS IN AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA
Women suffer discrimination because very few are recognized as independent farmers and their contribution is considered secondary, both within the family and in society.
Their livelihood is based on managing the natural resources which they have access to but cannot control. Consequently, Women are the most affected when disasters occur.
Customary traditional values and laws limit women’s opportunities to participate in local decision making processes. They also limit their access to credit, research and improved technologies
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

28. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES
Supporting women, to tap into the existing opportunities of economic growth by focusing on their strategic gender needs such as literacy, access to training, and agriculture extension advice.
Remove structural imbalances and address the discriminatory social norms such as protecting women’s property rights through co-titling and ensuring that as producers they have equal access to public programmes designed to increase productivity, such as gender compliant agricultural mechanization
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

29. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES…CONTD
Promote participatory skills development and gender-responsive extension and advisory services; provide a platform for intra-household gender discussions to strengthen involvement of women in decision making over agriculture proceeds.
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s farmer field schools being implemented in Uganda are one example of this.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

30. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES…CONTD
Promote gender equality through gender mainstreaming. This process ensures that the concerns and needs of both men and women are considered in the formulation and implementation of development policies, plans and strategies at all levels.
Promote women empowerment through group formation, access to credit, agricultural information and advisory
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

31. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES
Provide women with friendly agricultural technologies such as bee hives and clothing and irrigation as well as agro-processing.
Change the mindset of the youth to invest in Agriculture (National Agriculture Leadership Centre-Kampiringisa)
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

32. High level National Data Forum
AREAS OF RESEARCH
There’s need to up-date gender issues in agriculture
Carry out a situational analysis in the farming communities in Uganda to establish the current underlying factors and gender issues for any development intervention.
Use of Gender analysis tools in the collection, collation and analysis of data disaggregated by gender.
The data analysis will reveal current gender gaps, inequalities and issues that need to be addressed in agriculture sector.
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

33. High level National Data Forum
THANK YOU
8/8/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017