Barriers to women’s participation in coffee pest management learning groups in Mt Elgon Region, Uganda

Abstract

There is insufficient empirical research on barriers to women’s participation in mixed sex coffee Integrated Pest Management learning groups. Previous studies focused on socio economic factors with less emphasis on gender in a male dominated crop in Elgon Sub region of Uganda. The study used a cross sectional survey research design and a total 126 (71 men and 55 women) coffee IPM group members by census. A participation index was computed as a measure of level of participation in coffee IPM group processes while cross tabulations and correlation coefficients were used to analyze the relationship between level of participation and hypothesized barriers to women’s participation. Qualitative data informed interpretation of the observed correlations. Findings revealed that about 46% of the men compared to 25% women rated high on the group participation index with a significant chi-square difference (p < 0.05). Age, ability to read and write English and lumasaba, organizational goals set, membership criteria, access to credit, marital status, mobility constraints, access to and control over coffee management inputs and benefits were significantly correlated to group participation. The study concluded that research and development approaches that utilize groups should identify and address barriers to women’s participation and benefits from mixed sex group processes for better targeting of interventions.