Gender Differences in the Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Mozambique

Abstract

Maize is an important food and income-generating crop in Mozambique. Nevertheless, maize productivity remains low,
which could be caused by the low adoption of improved maize varieties, especially among smallholder farmers. Rural women play a
crucial role in agricultural production but have little control over resources, which obstructs their adoption and productivity.
Using data collected from 346 households, the study assessed the differences between male and female-headed households’ level of
adoption and the intensity of use of improved maize varieties (IMV) using Logit and Tobit models, respectively. The study found no
significant gender differences in the level of adoption; however, the level of adoption was higher for female-headed compared to male-headed households. Access to transport was found to be positive and statistically significant, influencing the level of adoption of
improved maize varieties. Female-headed households had lower access to transport. For the intensity of adoption, the dummy for gender was negative and statistically significant, implying that the intensity of adoption was lower for male-headed compared to female-headed households. The study concludes that the level of adoption of improved maize varieties is not gender-sensitive, but the intensity of adoption is. The study recommended that the government should facilitate the construction of road infrastructures for the ease of transportation of inputs, e.g. modern seed varieties and fertilisers and/or policies that favour the availability of stockists (input shops) in the village to improve the accessibility of inputs to farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture should make policies, regulations, and programs that encourage food production and reliable output markets, targeting both males and females to raise the intensity of adoption of IMV, food security and incomes in the households. Targeting male-headed households would raise the intensity of the use of improved maize varieties, contributing to achieving high productivity, food security, and raising incomes in the households.