The role of gender and institutional dynamics in adapting seed systems to climate change: case studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

dc.creatorMarimo, Pricilla
dc.creatorOtieno, Gloria
dc.creatorNjuguna-Mungai, Esther
dc.creatorVernooy, Ronnie
dc.creatorHalewood, Michael
dc.creatorFadda, Carlo
dc.creatorMulumba, Wasswa Mulumba
dc.creatorNyamongo, Desterio Ondieki
dc.creatorMollel, Margaret
dc.date2021-08-31
dc.date2021-09-02T08:41:17Z
dc.date2021-09-02T08:41:17Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T16:53:03Z
dc.descriptionWe explore how seed systems enhance access to seeds, and information for climate-change adaptation in farming communities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as how gender-driven roles and institutional dynamics influence the process. Men and women farmers equally experience climate-change related effects, including drought, short rainy seasons and increased pest and disease incidence. Our study relies on exploratory data analysis of 1001 households surveyed in four sites in 2016. Farmers surveyed preferred early-maturing, heat-tolerant, high-yielding, and pest- and disease-resistant varieties, all important climate-adaptive traits. Seed systems of the focus crops studied are largely informal—overall, 68% women and 62% men use their own seed, indicating women’s higher reliance on ‘informal’ seed and information sources. Only 21% of respondents reported interacting with seed experts who are affiliated with formal organizations. Both formal and informal organizations play a key role in providing access to climate-adapted seed/information, with access for men and women varying across the countries studied. There is a need to support further development of those connections, building on existing social networks. We conclude that inclusive and gender-responsive context- and country-specific seed interventions will ensure equitable outcomes, increase women’s empowerment and strengthen both formal and informal seed systems for more effective climate-change adaptation.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/114851
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/136041
dc.languageen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceMarimo, P.; Otieno, G.; Njuguna-Mungai, E.; Vernooy, R.; Halewood, M.; Fadda, C.; Mulumba, W.M.; Nyamongo, D.O.; Mollel, M. (2021) The role of gender and institutional dynamics in adapting seed systems to climate change: case studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Agriculture 11(9): 840. ISSN: 2077-0472
dc.subjectclimate change adaptation
dc.subjectgender
dc.subjectinstitutions
dc.subjectseed systems
dc.subjectadaptación al cambio climático
dc.subjectgénero
dc.subjectinstituciones
dc.titleThe role of gender and institutional dynamics in adapting seed systems to climate change: case studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
dc.typeJournal Article

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