Gender Analysis Of Gross Margin And Technical Efficiency In Irish Potato Value Chain: Case Study Of Kinangop Sub County, Nyandarua County

Abstract

Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a very important food crop grown in Kenya mostly by small farm holders. Kenya has made concerted effort to improve agricultural productivity and to lower gender gaps in agriculture. In improving production however, men and women have been considered average farmers yet gender differences in regard to opportunities and constraints abound. This study analyzed gender differences in gross margins and technical efficiency in Irish potato value chain in Kinangop sub County. Data from a gender disaggregated sample of 288 farmers, 99 traders and 39 processors drawn from the production and marketing levels of potato value chains was collected using questionnaires. Data was then analyzed using gross margin and stochastic production frontier analysis. Findings reveal that women in agriculture were more marginalized than men. At the production level, they had lower gross margins of Ksh 5907 compared to men who had Ksh 9240. At the marketing levels, women are mainly small scale retailers whereas men are mainly wholesalers. In comparing gross margins across actors, farmers had the lowest gross margins of Ksh 7585 and processors realized the highest gross margins of Ksh 63513 on average. In terms of technical efficiency, female farmers are less technical efficient at 0.49 compared to their male counterparts who were 0.54 technical efficient. Stakeholders and policy makers should not only strive to focus on promoting efficiency and productivity but also focus on policies that strengthen market access especially at farmer level. Women should be highly integrated into agricultural programs through trainings and capacity building to help them enhance their efficiency, productivity and access to market for produce and hence improved earnings.