Gender Disparities in Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties

This study examines gender disparities in adoption of improved maize varieties between male headed and female headed households. Data were collected by interviewing 148 proportionally selected respondents, whereby 115 were female headed and 33 were male-headed households using pre-tested structured questionnaires. The logit model results revealed that the adoption of improved maize variety is biased by gender, where FHH adopt the variety less. Number of livestock units, extension services and cultivated land size had a significant and positive influence on the adoption decision of improved maize varieties, whereas age and distance to input market had a significant and negative influence on the adoption decision for MHH. Cultivated land size and distance to input market did not significantly affect the adoption of improved maize varieties for FHH, mainly due to less access of female heads to resources and services. Therefore, policy should address gender disparities in access to resources and extension services that exist because of socio-cultural and institutional factors limiting the adoption of technologies for FHH.