Assessment of Gender Policy  in Selected Tertiary  Agricultural Education  Institutions in Africa

Chakeredza Sebastian,Drame Yaye Aissetou,Oluwole Matthew Akinnagbe,Hien Mipro,Ochola Alfred

doi:10.4236/as.2015.69099

Abstract

The paper assesses the existing gender policy document in fourteen (14) selected agricultural faculties and colleges in tertiary institutions in Africa. This paper is an output of research report on Programme of Strengthening Africa’s Strategic Agricultural Capacity for Impact on Development (SASACID) implemented by the African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE). Data for the study were collected from 207 respondents (8 deans of ANAFE SASACID pilot institutions, 36 academic staff/lecturers of SASACID pilot institutions and 163 students of SASACID pilot institutions) through the use of online survey. Data collected were analysed and presented using frequency, percentage and charts. Results of the survey revealed that 25.0% of the institutions studied indicated that they had a formal gender policy document in place in their institutions with regards to staff recruitment and students’ admission, while about 25.0% had an informal gender practices on staff recruitment and students’ admission. Higher proportion (60.0%) of the institution had neither a formal policy document nor informal practices as regards staff recruitment and students admission. Some of the constraints faced by the Institutions with a gender policy were insufficient female applicants in agricultural courses, societal norms and remote location of some of the faculties/colleges of agriculture. To encourage both males and females to study agriculture in higher institutions of learning and to create and sustain a fair and just academic environment where both have equal opportunities, there is a need to have a gender policy document and the need to create awareness.

Highlights

Agriculture is vital to people and economy of Africa, and many of those involved in agriculture as a business are women
The study was conducted in June, 2013 using the African Network of Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE) pilot institution
This is in conformity with the early findings from the University authority that there is a gender policy on staff recruitment

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is vital to people and economy of Africa, and many of those involved in agriculture as a business are women. Trees on farms and agroforestry systems contribute to food security, nutrition and livelihoods in several ways, including as a direct source of food, fuel, employment and cash income. They are fundamental to the survival of forest-dwellers; especially smallholders farm families, and are important providers of ecosystem services, including maintaining or restoring soil fertility, protecting watersheds and water courses. Agroforestry could complement forestry sector efforts in sustainable forest management by providing a set of tree-based conservation and production practices for agricultural lands [2]

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