Gender Equality and Obligations for Agricultural Development

By Betty Mntambo, Ombeni Swai, Mariam Genes

Men and women have made significant contributions to urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA). However, the role of women in UPA has often been underestimated. As a result, there is limited information on the gendered division of labour in UPA in Tanzania. We undertook 415 surveys among male and female farmers. The results show the percentage of men and women engaged in UPA as 49.2 percent and 50.8 percent respectively in Morogoro, and 41.2 percent and 58.8 per cent respectively in Dar es Salaam. Evidently, there is a slight difference between the participation of men and women in the two regions. The survey demonstrates that women's role in UPA must not be underestimated. The results also indicate that women's participation in UPA has economic and social gains as they contribute to household expenditure. Therefore, it is important to address the gendered division of labour in the UPA.

Results from the survey indicate that most female farmers are over 31 years of age; for instance, 77.4 per cent in Morogoro and 81.4 per cent in Dar es Salaam. They must fulfil their domestic duties alongside farming. The allocation of labour between the two roles and the amount of work they have to do is differentiated by their age, marital status, and number of children.

“ I usually wake up early in the morning to perform domestic activities before engaging in UPA activities. I don’t feel that my duties as a woman hinder my ability to become a great farmer. ”

(69-year-old female farmer, in Morogoro)

A woman in her farm resting at Kilakala, Morogoro.

Credits: Betty Mntambo

Women with younger children have more domestic activities to take care of before engaging in UPA. Female farmers cultivating outside their households have to go back home during the day to perform these.

Activities within UPA are also segregated by gender. For instance, activities that are considered hard are performed by men, including irrigation, cleaning of livestock shelters, preparing livestock feed, and carrying livestock waste to the disposal site, to mention a few. Activities such as collecting chicken eggs and harvesting vegetables are done by women. Some UPA farmers who employ labourers prefer men as they are considered to be more efficient. Women are hired for light work. For instance, in a case study in Chanika, Dar es Salaam, one farmer had hired 107 labourers. Only 27 per cent of these were female labourers. He explained it as follows:

“ Most of the activities on the poultry farm are male-oriented, so I have more male than female labourers. For example, lifting heavy chicken feed or collecting manure is done by men, while women clean the poultry shades and take care of the chicks. ”

(Male farmer, Dar es Salaam)

A man collecting eggs in a poultry farm in chanika

Credits: Nabil Abdallah

The findings also reveal that some household members participate in UPA activities because they believe it has made a significant contribution to the community. Therefore, spouses of farmers may assist depending on the type of activity. For example,

“ My husband assists me with the livestock (cattle, pigs, and chickens) at home but not with cultivation. He provides them food and water. When customers come to the house when I am not present, he assists with selling. ”

(42-year-old female farmer, Dar es Salaam)