The unequal efficiency gap: Key factors influencing women farmer’s efficiency in Uganda

Abstract

There is an assumed gap in efficiency between male and female farmers. Identifying the constraints of women farmers causing the gap is essential for improving local food security and well-being. Using stochastic frontier analysis, we compare the efficiency of men, women and jointly managed maize plots in Uganda and look at factors associated with inefficiency of women. Our results show that the average technical efficiency of women is lower than that of men or jointly managed plots. However, in relation to a group-specific frontier, the women are highly efficient. Women’s inefficiency is associated with several household features. The overall number of household members has a negative effect on efficiency, suggesting that women are time constrained by the efforts they put into household productive work. There also seems to be an association between efficiency and cash-crop farming, disadvantaging women who more commonly grow crops for household consumption.