Gendered Decision Making In The Adoption Of Maize Storage Technologies In Ushetu And Mbulu Districts

ABSTRACT

Existence of Post-harvest loss is still a threat that does not only affect the state of food security, but also significantly compromises the livelihood of the majority. To mitigate this different stakeholder from the government and non-governmental institutions have put several programs to popularize loss reduction innovations specifically at the storage level. Among the initiatives introduced enhanced knowledge and training on the use of metal silo and hermetic bags. Despite the efforts devoted, its adoption is assumed to be a social agency that is specifically decided through gender relations. Thus, this study aimed to assess the influence of gendered decision-making process on the adoption of the improved maize storage technologies as the means of fighting hunger and poverty. A cross-sectional design was employed. The data were collected from 120 respondents through the use of focus group discussion, questionnaire, and key informant interview. Logistic regression, Linear probability model, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data. The result after an analysis revealed that intra-household bargaining power was not statically significant towards influencing the adoption of improved maize storage technology. It was also found that awareness, farming experience, age of the households and beliefs are the major socio-cultural factors that have influenced a gender to adopt the improved storage technologies. Lastly, the results revealed that task division among the gendered households was not statistically significant towards the adoption of improved maize storage technologies in both Mbulu and Ushetu districts. Therefore, this study recommends that awareness program over the improved maize storage technologies should be extended so that to ensure that all the members of the nation are aware with improved maize storage technologies. This will enable the members of the family, regardless of their gender, to make joint decisions about the adoption of the improved

maize storage technologies. By so doing, the household members will be assured with food supply and therefore meeting no hunger objective and consequently improving their social and economic status.