Gender related factors influencing smallholder farmers’ use of drought coping information sources in Western Uganda

Abstract

Gender influences agricultural information sourcing in sub-Saharan African (SSA), yet it is still less often emphasised in the choice of the explanatory factors specific to smallholder farmers’ use of information to adapt to environmental stresses. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of gender related social, economic and institutional factors on smallholder farmers’ use of drought coping information sources in Western Uganda. A survey was conducted involving 167 men and 146 women in Masindi district in Western Uganda. Binary logistic estimates indicated that men with longer farming experience, increased their likelihood of contacting fellow farmers that experimented with farming practices, and were affiliated more to extension agencies as sources of agricultural information. However, their engagement with fellow farmers that used agro-technologies and of different sexes, reduced their peer engagement. For women, marital status, interaction with innovative farmers and extension linkages increased their contacts with fellow farmers; while education level of fellow farmers and years spent in farming, reduced their reliance on fellow farmers as sources of drought information. Access to agricultural inputs strongly influenced both men and women’s contact with extension services, though women depended more on this mode of drought coping information sourcing than their male counterparts. The interaction of men with extension services was influenced by access to any mode of transport, radio ownership and land size owned. In contrast, women’s engagement with extension services was less influenced by possession of these assets; but showed a greater responsiveness to proximity of extension agencies. Membership to farmer groups reduced peer networking; though promoted use of extension services among men and women, with men showing more interaction. These findings highlight the diversity of gendered pathways to information sources, with men leveraging more resources and formal structures; whereas women rely more on social networks and peers that communicate well.