Gendered access to productive resources – evidence from small holder farmers in Awutu Senya West District of Ghana

Abstract

Differential access to productive agricultural resources stifles agricultural growth, nevertheless, this persists in developing countries. This study uses the feminist political economy to examine the relationship between gender and access to agricultural resources among maize farmers in Ghana. The research employed mixed methods involving the use of a survey instrument, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The focus group discussions and key informant interviews involved 40 individuals. A cross-sectional survey of 80 farmers was undertaken using simple random and purposive sampling. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 5 out of 7 operational zones in the Awutu Senya West District. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 24 and NVivo software packages. The findings showed that access to resources such as land, agricultural extension services and information remained gendered. Whereas, access to credit, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and labour remained ungendered. The gendered and ungendered access to productive resources intersects with class, age, education and socio-cultural norms in shaping access to and control over resources. The study recommends that agricultural advisory services must prioritize women of low educational background and class who find themselves in patrilineal societies. This should be done from an intersectional gendered perspective taking into cognizance men and women differential access to productive resources to bridge existing gender gaps in context.