How Much of the Labor in African Agriculture Is Provided by Women?

Palacios-Lopez, Amparo; Christiaensen, Luc; Kilic, Talip

How Much of the Labor in African Agriculture Is Provided by Women?

Autores

Palacios-Lopez, Amparo

Christiaensen, Luc

Kilic, Talip

Editor

World Bank, Washington, DC

Descripción

The contribution of women to labor in African agriculture is regularly quoted in the range of 60 to 80 percent. Using individual-disaggregated, plot-level labor input data from nationally representative household surveys across six Sub-Saharan African countries, this study estimates the average female labor share in crop production at 40 percent. It is slightly above 50 percent in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda, and substantially lower in Nigeria (37 percent), Ethiopia (29 percent), and Niger (24 percent). There are no systematic differences across crops and activities, but female labor shares tend to be higher in households where women own a larger share of the land and when they are more educated. Controlling for the gender and knowledge profile of the respondents does not meaningfully change the predicted female labor shares. The findings question prevailing assertions regarding substantial gains in aggregate crop output as a result of increasing female agricultural productivity.

Palabras clave

LIVING STANDARDS, EMPLOYMENT, FARM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, FERTILIZER, PRODUCTION, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, PREMISES, FOOD CONSUMPTION, INCOME, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLDS, LABOR ALLOCATION, RURAL WOMEN, LEGUMES, QUINONES, PESTICIDE, INFORMATION, LABOR FORCE, ANIMALS, HOUSING, PLANTING, DATA ON WOMEN, EFFECTS, INCENTIVES, HEALTH, IFPRI, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, LABOR STATISTICS, RURAL YOUTH, PROJECT, FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS, FARM INCOME, TOWNS, LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION, ASSOCIATIONS, SMALL TOWNS, AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT, OIL PALM, INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KNOWLEDGE, MAIZE, SUNFLOWER, CROP PRODUCTION, CEREALS, DISEASES, CASH CROPS, DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, DWELLING, FARM EMPLOYMENT, PRODUCTIVITY, LABOR PRODUCTIVITY, PALM OIL, MARKETS, ORGANIZATIONS, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, FIELD WORK, SUGAR CANE, INDICATORS, RESEARCH, FARMING, LIVESTOCK, STANDARDS, LABOR, FARMERS, JUTE, PLOWING, ANIMAL PRODUCTION, COCOA, CULTIVATED LAND, TOBACCO, CROPS, FOOD PRODUCTION, DESIGN, FEMALE LABOR, PRODUCE, FACTOR MARKETS, FOOD SECURITY, TEA, CROP, PARTICIPATION, ECOLOGICAL ZONES, VALUE, GENDER, CULTIVATION, FARM ACTIVITIES, TUBERS, MAIZE PRODUCTION, REPORTS, HOUSEHOLD, COFFEE, AGRICULTURE, FAO, YOUTH, FARM WORK, MARKET, HARVESTING, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT, COTTON, DEGRADATION, LAND, LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL LABOR, SECURITY, EDUCATION, FEMALES, SUGARCANE, WORKING CONDITIONS, RISK, FARM, FOOD CROPS, HOUSEHOLDS, RURAL AREAS, CROP AGRICULTURE, FOOD SUPPLY, EDIBLE CROPS, LABOR ALLOCATION DECISIONS, SUPPLY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, HOUSES, YIELDS, PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES, CHILD LABOR, LIVELIHOODS, COMMUNITY, GREEN REVOLUTION, WOMEN, AGRICULTURAL, FARMING SYSTEMS, LABOUR, FOOD PROCESSING, LABOR MARKETS, TECHNOLOGIES, OUTCOMES, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, GUM ARABIC, FEMALE, SOIL QUALITY, SUGAR