African Leafy Vegetables and Household Wellbeing in Kenya: A Disaggregation by Gender

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the contribution of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) to household wellbeing by gender. The study was conducted in Kiambu District using multistage sampling technique. Primary data was collected from a sample of 166 small-scale farmers using a structured questionnaire. The findings of the study showed that ALVs is an important contributor to household income. Income, primary occupation of the farmer, distance to market, access to extension services, access to technical support and distance to piped water source, were found to be important factors influencing production of ALVs by smallholder farmers. The factors determining gross margins of ALVs, for women, included; education, land size, distance to piped water source and technical support for ALVs farming while the determinants of ALVs gross margins for men included; age of the household head, experience in farming, access to credit, group membership and access to technical support. On the policy front the study recommends the empowerment of the smallholder household, especially the female headed households and the youth, with productive resources such as extension services, technical support and an alternative land tenure system so as to improve their livelihoods.