Gender relationships in production and commercialization of potato seed with small-scale farmers in the Central Andes of Ecuador
Date
2010
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Abstract
A gender analysis was conducted in the central Andes of Ecuador with the following objectives (i) to identify and
analyze gender relationships and benefits in potato seed producers of the farmers’ organization CONPAPA
(Consorcio de la Papa) and (ii) to propose recommendations to improve the relationships among the actors of
CONPAPA’s seed system. A rural participatory diagnostic with gender approach was used to gather information
about general characteristics, participation in community activities, potato-related activities, decision making,
and personal, family and unpaid activities. This method promoted reflection among farmers about their roles
according to gender. Main conclusions were the following: first, women are a critical component for seed
production in CONPAPA; second, women are being empowered by becoming part of CONPAPA seed producers
groups; third, becoming part of the CONPAPA seed producers groups might be overloading women capacity;
and fourth, men are still attending the most important events and are in charge of taking the most important
decisions. Several recommendations were made. (i) take extra care on using training materials adapted for
women and doing the training events in their native language; (ii) promote women access not only to
knowledge, but also to other resources, mainly credit, so they can run their own businesses; (iii) practice
affirmative action and promote women leadership; (iv) be aware that new activities could be overloading
women capacity and, therefore, start the intervention with few and simple activities; and (v) make explicit the
contribution made by women to specific activities.
Description
Meeting: 15th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC)
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Conference Paper
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Keywords
ANDES, WOMEN, GENDER ANALYSIS, ECUADOR, POTATOES, SEED POTATOES, RURAL CREDIT, WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE, WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION, INNOVATION ADOPTION, ROOT CROPS, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY, ACCESS TO INFORMATION, TRAINING, LIVELIHOODS
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DOI
Collections
IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Gender, Innovation and Development Inclusion / Genre, innovation, et développement inclusif
Gender, Science and Technology / Genre, science et technologie
Innovation Systems / Systèmes d'innovation
Innovations and Intermediaries / Innovations et intermédiaires
Load more 2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Gender, Innovation and Development Inclusion / Genre, innovation, et développement inclusif
Gender, Science and Technology / Genre, science et technologie
Innovation Systems / Systèmes d'innovation
Innovations and Intermediaries / Innovations et intermédiaires