Assessing the gender dimensions in the true costs of food production in Kenya

Geoffrey, Baragu; Boukaka, Sedi Anne; Benfica, Rui

Assessing the gender dimensions in the true costs of food production in Kenya

Autores

Geoffrey, Baragu

Boukaka, Sedi Anne

Benfica, Rui

Editor

International Food Policy Research Institute

Descripción

Key takeaways: Gender-based environmental and social external costs create substantial economic inefficiencies in the agricultural sector. The gender wage gap contributes 12.8% to total external costs. Women's limited access to resources leads to reduced productivity, with female farmers investing 36% less in inputs than their male counterparts. Workplace harassment, which disproportionately affects women, accounts for 10.8% of total external costs. Unequal land management practices (women managing smaller plots) and having restricted access to improved agricultural inputs create additional inefficiencies in resource allocation and production outcomes.