Integrating gender into Kenya’s evolving seed policies and regulations for roots and tubers
| dc.creator | Sulle, E. | |
| dc.creator | Mudege, Netsayi N. | |
| dc.date | 2021-12 | |
| dc.date | 2022-02-10T01:56:03Z | |
| dc.date | 2022-02-10T01:56:03Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-27T18:01:12Z | |
| dc.description | In many developing countries where farmers grow vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs), they are often unable to increase on-farm productivity partly due to limited access to quality seeds. Yet, seed policy and legal frameworks for VPCs in many countries show a limited consideration of the specific characteristics of the seed systems for root, tuber and banana crops. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of how the implementation of current seed policy frameworks affect participation by men and women as either seed producers or seed users. This paper examines the Kenyan seed policy processes and discusses the gender-sensitivity of how seed policy decisions are made in order to understand how these can be made gender sensitive. It unpacks the context in which seed policies are implemented; how the content of seed policies can differently affect men and women farmers' participation in seed production and access to seed; and provides recommendations on how seed policy can be made more inclusive. Analysis of the data gathered for this paper revealed that Kenya's far-reaching legislative reforms approved in 2016, which aimed to modernize seed systems and markets, have triggered key debates on whether such reforms are gender- and crop-inclusive. Scrutiny of existing seed policies, regulations and legislation, and devolved government institutions and structures, show that the new reforms significantly commit government and the private sector to new investments in seed production and marketing. However, inadequate provisions on gender and crop inclusivity are found in the seed policy and there is no specific implementation strategy at the county and national government levels. The explicitly gender-oriented Agricultural Sector Gender Policy (2013) does not say anything about the production of sweetpotatoes or potatoes and their seed, although it does tackle women's access to land, which is a key factor if women are to be engaged in seed production. This paper argues that seed policy needs to shift its focus from punitive measures to enforce the use of certified seed to a more collaborative approach with farmers – including women and youth – to improve the quality of seed available in the informal seed system and guide informal seed producers through the certification process. This will ensure that women and youth understand the benefits of using quality seed and are capacitated to produce and market healthy, quality seed themselves. | |
| dc.format | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118033 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/152601 | |
| dc.language | en | |
| dc.publisher | International Potato Center | |
| dc.rights | Open Access | |
| dc.source | Sulle, E.; Mudege, N. (2021). Integrating gender into Kenya’s evolving seed policies and regulations for roots and tubers. CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas. Lima, Peru: International Potato Center. No. 2021-3. Available online at: www.rtb.cgiar.org | |
| dc.subject | gender | |
| dc.subject | seed systems | |
| dc.subject | roots | |
| dc.subject | tubers | |
| dc.title | Integrating gender into Kenya’s evolving seed policies and regulations for roots and tubers | |
| dc.type | Working Paper |