Gender-related Impacts of Improved Agricultural Technologies: Identification of Indicators from a Case Study

Abstract

’With’ and ’without’ technology situations were compared in relation to the package of groundnut production technology introduced by the Legumes On-farm Testing and Nursery Unit (LEGOFTEN) program of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in the late 1980s. The introduction of technology resulted in the emergence of the following indicators with strong gender implications: (a) labor and time allocation patterns, (b) decision-making behavior with regard to the resource use of crop products, and (c) differential perceptions of users, with implications for technology development.

The allocation of time to various activities, particularly by women, was significantly influenced by the introduction of the technology. The decision-making patterns indicate the gender-related segmentation of market and domestic activities; and men gaining greater control over market-related activities and women over domestic activities. Differences in perception regarding technology do exist between women and men in farm households. Women not only perceive technology in terms of its workability but also consider aspects of drudgery, while men are mostly concerned with financial viability. A research and development agenda which incorporates an analysis of gender disaggregated farmer perspectives is likely to lead to a more appropriate and acceptable technology which will gain further and wider adoption.