Food Security, Productivity, and Gender Inequality - The Oxford Topic of Food, Politics, and Society - page 279

Table 11.1 Gender differences in agricultural productivity/efficiency: A summary of
existing studies

Differences
attributable
to constraints
faced by women
farmers

Productivity/
efficiency
differences Country Author and Year Sample Crop(s)

AFRICA RELATED STUDIES
Benin (Central) Kinkingninhoun-

Mêdagbé et al.
(2008)

50 farmers from
an irrigated rice
scheme (and 145
farmers in total)

Rice Women's yields

are 27% below
those of male
farmers in one
season.

Women lack
timely access
to ploughing,
planting and
transportation
services

Burkina Faso
(Subnational)

Udry et al (1995) ICRISAT sample

survey covering
150 households
and 4,655 plots
over four years

All crops,
sorghum and
vegetables

Women's yield is
18% lower than
that of men for
all crops, 40%
less for sorghum
and 20% less for
vegetables.

Women use less
inputs, especially
fertilizers. Overall
output could
be increased by
10-20% with a
reallocation of
inputs between
male and female
plots

Burkina Faso
(Subnational and
National)

Akresh (2008) ICRISAT sample

survey used by
Udry et al (1995)
and a nationally
representative
survey of 2,406
farms in 1990/91

Millet-Sorghum
and Cotton-
Rice-Fonio

Women are 32%
less efficient in
ICRISAT areas,
just under 7%
less efficient in
near-ICRISAT
areas, and
equally efficient
in other areas.

No information

Burkina Faso
(National)

Bindlish, Evenson,
& Gbetibouo
(1993)

Nationally
representative
survey of
2406 farms in
1990/1991

All crops 15% lower

value of total
output on female
headed farms.

No information

Cameroon
(Southern)

Kumase,
Bisseleua, &
Klasen (2008)

Survey covering
1030 cocoa
farmers in 2007

Cocoa Similar

productivity of
male and female
farmers. With
equal access
to inputs and
extension women
would be slightly
more productive.

Women have less
access to inputs
and extension
services.

(Continued)