Gender Relations in Agricultural Innovation: Analyzing Differences in the Adoption of Potato Farming among Smallholders in Musanze District, Rwanda

Abstract

Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a key staple and cash crop in Rwanda, yet productivity among smallholder farmers remains constrained by uneven adoption of recommended potato farming technologies and practices (RPFTPs). This study examines how gender relations influence adoption of RPFTPs in Musanze District using an individual-level, gender- and age-disaggregated approach. Survey data were collected from 400 potato farmers and categorized into female adults, female youth, male adults, and male youth. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance with Tukey’s HSD test, and binary logistic regression, complemented by qualitative evidence. Results show significant differences in adoption across four gender groups, with 43% of farmers classified as improved adopters. Mean adoption differed significantly across groups (F = 10.68, p < 0.001), with male youth recording the highest adoption rate (71.2%), followed by female youth (56.3%), female adults (41.2%), and male adults (31.1%). Female adults showed relatively strong adoption of labor-intensive and post-harvest practices, and adoption was significantly influenced by age, marital status, extension contact, participation in Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIPs), and market orientation. Logistic regression results using odd ratios (OR) showed that adoption was positively associated with extension contact (OR = 3.16, p = 0.038) and AIP membership (OR = 2.03, p = 0.007), but negatively associated with age and being married. The findings highlight the importance of targeted, gender-responsive extension and innovation strategies to promote inclusive technology adoption and enhance potato productivity.