Gender dynamics in commercial sugarcane farming among Kinyara Sugarcane Outgrowers in Masindi District, Uganda

Abstract

Sugarcane growing is an important economic activity in Uganda and across Africa. However, participation in sugarcane cultivation manifests gender variations. The purpose of this study was to explore the gender dynamics in commercial sugarcane farming among the sugarcane out-growers in Masindi District. The study employed an exploratory sequential design to collect data from a sample size of 265 sugarcane farmers using questionnaires. The study used three Focus Group Discussions to collect data from sugarcane out-grower farmer leaders and Key informant interviews to collect data from 12 key district officials and Kinyara sugar management members in selected villages. The findings revealed that; most of the sugarcane commercial out growing activities are dominated by men that included; Pre-planting, Planting, Crop Maintenance, Harvesting, Transporting, Tallying and Revenue Collection. Findings further revealed that sugarcane outgrowing is associated with both social and economic benefits that are uniquely distributed between men and women that were; access to credit facilities, access to inputs, extension services and opportunities to membership to organizations. The major challenges affecting sugarcane out growing were; price fluctuations of sugarcane and limited access to finance that impedes expansion of acreage of their sugarcane plantations. Ultimately, the study advances knowledge on the gender ramifications of the out-grower scheme which complicates sugarcane marketing and the pre existing social structural inequalities that prevent the people from undergoing transformation.