Summary
This survey of 306 farmers in southern Africa demonstrates that maize variety choice is significantly associated with farmer gender and household structure, and that female plot managers and household heads employ distinct agronomic practices. The authors argue that conventional researcher-led on-farm trials, which impose standardised management practices and focus on yield outcomes, may fail to identify gender-specific trait preferences driving varietal adoption. The paper proposes expanding gender-responsive maize breeding beyond trait-specific selection to include breeding environments aligned with the agronomic practices actually used by female farmers.
UK applicability
The findings are specific to southern African farming contexts and smallholder production systems, which differ substantially from UK cereal farming in scale, mechanisation, and market structures. However, the methodological approach of surveying on-farm practice variation by gender could inform inclusive crop breeding strategies in any region.
Key measures
Gender of plot manager; gender of household head; maize varieties used; agronomic management practices
Outcomes reported
The study identified significant associations between maize variety choice and the gender of plot manager and household head, and documented distinct agronomic practices employed by female farmers. The findings suggest that researcher-led on-farm trials may not adequately capture gender-specific trait preferences driving varietal choice.
Topic tags
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