Intra-household processes and the adoption of hedgerow intercropping

Abstract

Although on-farm research in severalparts of Africa suggests positive prospects for theadoption of hedgerow intercropping, this paper arguesthat the implications of intra-household processeshave not been considered in sufficient details. Suchinformation is necessary for targeting the technologyto specific socio-cultural localities and categoriesof producers and for anticipating adoption trends.Based on three case materials, two from southernNigeria and one from western Kenya, it examines howthe gender division of labor, decision-making, andareas of responsibility and inter-generational landallocation patterns determine that the interests andneeds of certain household members are met, often atthe expense of others. The tendency of agriculturalresearchers to ignore the intra-household dimension isattributed to the frequent absence of sociologists andanthropologists as integral members of research teamsand the use of research methodologies that areinappropriate for uncovering the complexities ofintra-household issues.