This document summarizes a study on gender in seed systems for climate change adaptation in East Africa. The study surveyed 1001 farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to analyze seed exchange networks and identify gaps. It found that while women were more connected to each other for seed sourcing, men had greater connections to organizations providing seed and climate information. The study concluded more should be done to support women through linkages to formal institutions to improve their access to viable seeds and ability to adapt to climate change through resilient seed systems.

1. Gender in Seed Systems for Climate change Adaptation in East Africa
Dr. Gloria Otieno- Bioversity International
Dr. John Recha - CCAFS
Bali – 8th October 2019

2. Adaptation to climate change: recommended
actions by the IPCC
• Improving crop tolerance to new conditions
• Improving access to gene banks to develop varieties
with appropriate adaptive characteristics
• Indigenous Knowledge (IK) has developed adaptive
strategies thus contributing to food security

3. (1)
Genetic
diversity
(2)
Selection &
cultivation
(3)
Harvest
(4)
Diversify seed
systems
(5)
Deriving
benefits
Outcomes
Empowerment of communities: more
resilient to eco-socio-economic changes,
more resilient production systems
Research Outcome
Options for resilient
systems are identified
and cultivated
Outcome
Self-reliance of seed system
actors on broader set of
options, making them more
resilient to market changes
Empowering women to adapt to climate change
through seed systems
IMPACT
Improved
productivity,
incomes and
other
livelihood
benefits

4. Case study: Social Seed Networks for Climate
Change Adaptation (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania)
• Based on a survey of
1001 farmers in the
three countries
• Seed exchange
(channels used by men
and women to source
seed for different crops
and varieties)
• Information exchange
on seeds and varieties
• Gaps Identified

5. Methodology
• Use of social networks for analysis for seed
systems
• The four sites located in East Africa are Nyando
basin (Lower and Upper) in Kenya, Hoima in
Uganda, and Singida and Hombolo in Tanzania
• Data collected July-October of 2016.
• Distribution of surveyed 1001 households:
– 365 households from Lower and Upper Nyando in
Kenya,
– 302 from Hoima District in Uganda
– 334 from Hombolo and Singida in Tanzania.

6. Respondents of the survey
Category
Respondent
gender
Region
Upper Nyando
Lower
Nyando
Hoima Hombolo Singida
Gender of
respondent
Male (%)
47.9% 32.0% 39.9% 22.2% 43.4%
Female
(%) 52.1% 68.0% 60.1% 77.8% 56.6%

7. Mean Centrality = 0.958
Betweenness = 4.316
Mean Centrality = 0.653
Betweenness = 0.245
Seed Exchange among Male Farmers
Kenya Tanzania
Mean Centrality = 0.598
Betweenness = 0.214
Uganda

8. Seed Exchange among Female Farmers
Mean Centrality = 1.006
Betweenness = 30.275
Mean Centrality = 0.645
Betweenness = 0.364
Kenya Tanzania
Mean Centrality = 0.649
Betweenness = 0.26
Uganda

9. Connections between male respondents
and organizations in Kenya.

10. Connections between female
respondents and organizations in Kenya.

11. Connections between male respondents
and organizations in Uganda.

12. Connections between female
respondents and organizations in
Uganda.

13. Types of institutions/organizations
• Credit and savings
• NGOs
• National Agricultural Research Organizations
• CCAFS
• Other CGIAR centers
• Extension services
• Seed companies

14. Gender Gaps identified in access to seed
and information in the seed systems
• Although women are more connected to each other, they are
less connected to organizations or have less access to
important sources of information on seeds
• Men are generally better connected to organizations than
women and their connections are more towards formal
institutions
• Need to support women more through linkages with formal
institutions for access to viable seeds.

15. Thank you