Women’ s empowerment in traditional food value chains at the micro-level: Evidence from cassava smallholder farming in Tanzania
Blessing Masamhaa,c, Veronica N. E. Uzokwe b, and Vusilizwe Thebea
aDepartment of Anthropology & Archaeology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; bInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), East Africa Regional Hub, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; cDepartment of Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe
ABSTRACT
Empowering women improves household food productivity and security. We examined women’s empowerment within the cassava value chain according to the five domains of empowerment of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index, using data from 228 respondents in Tanzania. Disempowerment indices for women and men were 0.95 and 0.14, respectively. Women were disempowered in the production, leadership, and time domains. Women were empowered in the resources domain, which entailed joint ownership and decision making. Marital status and educational levels were significantly associated with women’s empowerment. Policies to improve women’s empowerment should focus on securing ownership of resources and access to credit.
KEYWORDS
Africa; cassava; five domains of empowerment (5DE); Tanzania; traditional food value chain; women’s empowerment
Adaptation of a participatory organic certification system to the organic products law in six local markets in mexico
Claudia Rosina Baraa, Dr. Ramón Jarquin Gálvezb, Dr. Humberto Reyes Hernándezc
and Dr. Javier Fortanelli Martínezd
aAutonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Environmental Agenda, Dr Manuel Nava, University Zone, 78210 San Luis Potosi, S.L.P., México; bFaculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Highway San Luis Potosí Km. 14.5, Soledad de Graciano Sanchez, 78321 San Luis, S.L.P., México; cFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Av Industrias 101-A Fracc. Talleres, 78399, San Luis, S.L.P., México; dResearch Institute of Desert Zones, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Altair num. 200, Col. del Llano, 78377 San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., México
ABSTRACT
The Organic Products Law considers the Participatory Organic Certification System (POCS) as a guarantee system for consumers, aimed at organized small-scale producers which are directly connected to a local market. This article analyzes the
challenges of the POCS in six markets in Mexico, underlining the changes brought about by the inclusion of POCS into national legislation of organic production. The results show the existing limiting and enabling factors that favor or threaten the participatory certification operation in these markets. They have to do with the legal constitution and consolidation of the
certification group, the need to count on a well-defined POCS operational structure, and institutional support.
KEYWORDS
Local organic markets; participatory certification; PGS; recognition; regulation
Farmers’ rights, local food systems, and sustainable household dietary diversification: A case of Uttarakhand Himalaya in north-western India
I.S Bishta, P.S Mehtaa, K.S Negi†a, S.K Vermaa, R.K Tyagib, and S.C Garkotic aRegional Station, ICAR—National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Bhowali (Nainital) Uttarakhand, India; bDivision of Germplasm Conservation, ICAR—National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India; cSchool of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
ABSTRACT
The farmers and rural communities, world over, have contributed greatly in management of agrobiodiversity including plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). It is well accepted now that the efforts of farming communities in creation, conservation, exchange, and enhancement of PGR should be recognized and strengthened. Farmers’ access and rights over seeds are considered an essential component of food sovereignty. In the present article, we discuss the aspects of farmers’ rights, the community level seed systems, food sovereignty and the potential of farmer household production and dietary diversification in combating malnutrition and community health promotion with regard to farming communities of Uttarakhand hills in north-western India. Salient findings of two case studies, on farmers’ varieties documentation and registration, and the potential of local food systems in addressing community health and nutrition were used to particularly showcase the nutritional contribution of native foods in the context of sustainable food-based approaches to community health and nutrition. Further, the need of a proactive alliance was suggested between local communities and their key allies collaboratively creating a research and advocacy agenda in support of agrobiodiversity and the revival of local food systems and landscapes within the broader framework of food sovereignty.
KEYWORDS
Farmers’ rights; community seed systems; food sovereignty; household production and dietary diversity; nutritional security
