1. East -West Africa Lowland Regional Gender Workshop in North Sudan
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2. KENYA MAP SHOWING POTENTIAL WHEAT ZONES
2East -West Africa Lowland Regional Gender Workshop in North Sudan

3. Introduction
 Wheat is the second most important
cereal crop after maize in terms of
production and consumption in Kenya.
 It contributes significantly to the
country’s food security and livelihood
support.
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4. Introduction..
 80% of the wheat production is by large
scale farmers (20%) while small-scale
farmers (80%) produce 20%.
 Average annual national production is
400,000 tons while consumption is 1
million tons.
 Per capita wheat consumption is
increasing by 4% per annum.
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5. Why Wheat Seed Production?..
 Inadequate access to improved wheat
varieties by small-scale farmers.
 Unavailability of quality seed to small-
scale farmers leading to use of recycled
seeds.
 Unavailability of appropriate smallholder
machinery, equipment and implements.
 Emerging and spread of new diseases
(e.g. stem rust, Ug99) and insect pests.
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6. Understanding Gender
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7. What is Gender?..
• Gender is defined as a social
relationship between men and
women, that is determined by
society
• The relations refer to a complex
system through which women and
men are socialized
• These relations determine access
to power and resources
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8. What is Gender?..
• In nearly all cases, the relationship is
unequal in terms of labour, access to
and control over resources, benefits and
overall power relations
• Because gender is socially constructed, it
varies within and between cultures and also
over time
• Since gender relations are constructed socially
and can be changed over time: We need to
look for systematic approach to reduce
existing gender > equality gaps within
Research and Society
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9. Why Gender in Wheat Seed
Production?..
 We need equal opportunities and
participation in, and benefit from
agricultural production and development
initiatives for both women and men, to
achieve gender balance
 A situation where men and women are
seen to be equal, provided with equal
opportunities in the society, enjoying equal
benefits and are treated the same before
the law
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10. Why Gender in Wheat Seed
Production?..
 It involves identifying and removing
constraints that may affect the
participation and/or benefit of women
and men from the agricultural /
development processes.
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11. The Basic Principle
 Balance the involvement of females and males in
all agricultural related activities or issues
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12. Farmers
Researchers
 Information captured at farmer’s level, disaggregated
by sex
 Methodologies for participatory gender analysis tools
and gender disaggregated data…done
 Capacity building in conceptual and gender analysis
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13. Gender Profile in Wheat seed
value chains
Participation in the wheat value
chains is gendered in regard to:
• Who produces what wheat?
• Who does what role along the wheat value
chain?
• Who has access to and control over the
resources?
• Who has access to and control over
benefits?
• Who makes what decisions?
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14. Small Scale Gender Differentiation
Roles in Wheat Production in Kenya
Female Farmers Male Farmers
 Weed weeds
 Fetch water for
spraying
 Cut by hand- Sickle
 Thresh by hand
 Winnow
 Dress (Post-harvest)
 Spray Chemicals
 Carry dressed seed
to store
 Market
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15. Gender Statistics in Wheat Seed
Production
90%
10%
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16. Differentiated Gender Groups within
3 Districts
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Buuri District
Kieni West
District
Nyandarua
District
All Women 3 0 0
All Men 0 1 0
Mixed Groups 2 3 3
3
0 00
1
0
2
3 3
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5

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Engendered Graphical Statistics by Districts of
Small Scale Wheat Farmer Groups
Buuri District
Kieni West
District
Nyandarua
Central Distrcit
Female 200 11 15
Male 40 60 24
0
50
100
150
200
250
Note: In Buuri District, female farmers were more in groups than male
farmers. This was because they had started the groups to feed their families
hence progressed to being business groups.

18. Success Story – Toa Jasho
Women SHG
 The group planted 13 acres of
wheat seed in July 2013.
 Harvested 260 bag/90kg
 Sold 180 bags from 9 acres.
 Kept 80 bags/90 for next
season.
 The group earned Kshs. 885,000
from the seed sales.
 Group members received Kshs.
20,000 each from the sales.
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19. Success Story – Farmers SHG
 The farmers
bought dairy
cow, sheep and
renovated zero
grazing unit.
 They increased
acreage from 13
acres (5.2 Ha) in
2013 to 49 acres
(19.6 Ha) in
2014.
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20. Cross Cutting Issues
 Gender mainstreaming - groups
involved in wheat seed production are
required to have at least 30% of either
gender. In capacity building it is ensured
that both gender are represented.
 Environmental issues – Farmers
sensitized on good agricultural
practices, soil and water management.
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21. Cross Cutting Issues..
 Farmer groups trained on safe and
effective use of pesticides including
protective gears and safe disposal of
containers.
 Child labor - farmer groups sensitized on
hiring labor from adults above 18 years of
age.
 Risk misuse of resources i.e. Were
encouraged each to open Bank Accounts
for their safe keeping of money
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22. Achievements
 Potential for increased wheat productivity
in project areas (1.8 to 3.5 tons per
hectare) through dissemination of
improved varieties, crop management
practices and seed production.
 Increased demand for improved wheat
seed in the project areas mostly women
adoption.
 Strong collaboration and linkages
amongst wheat stakeholders (farmers,
MOALF, KALRO, KEPHIS, Agro-dealers).
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23. Way Forward
…are we walking the GENDER talk?!
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