Browsing by Author "Njarui, D."
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Item Feminization of African Agriculture and the Meaning of Decision-Making for Empowerment and Sustainability(MDPI, 2021-08-11) Haug, R.; Mwaseba, D.L.; Njarui, D.; Moeletsi, M.; Magalasi, M.; Mutimura, M.; Hundessa, F.; Aamodt, J.T.; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) ; Sokoine University of Agriculture ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) ; Soil, Climate and Water ; University of Limpopo ; University of Malawi ; Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) ; Haramaya UniversityThe purpose of this study was to assess women’s decision-making power in small-scale agriculture in six African countries in view of the feminization of agriculture and to discuss the meaning of decision-making in relation to women’s empowerment and sustainability. The data are drawn from a multisite and mixed-method agricultural research and development project in six sub-Saharan countries including two sites in each country. The five domains of empowerment outlined in the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index are used to structure the analysis. The results indicate that in the selected sites in Malawi, Rwanda and South Africa, women farmers tend to dominate agricultural decision-making, while the result is more mixed in the Kenyan sites, and decision-making tends to be dominated by men in the sites in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Despite women participating in agricultural decision-making, the qualitative results show that women small-scale farmers were not perceived to be empowered in any of the country sites. It appears that the feminization of agriculture leads to women playing a more important role in decision-making but also to more responsibilities and heavier workloads without necessarily resulting in improvements in well-being outcomes that would enhance sustainability.Item Forage Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Experiences, Challenges, and Opportunities(Wiley, 2021) Balehegn, M.; Ayantunde, A.; Amole, T.; Njarui, D.; Nkosi, B.D.; Müller, F.L.; Meeske, R.; Tjelele, T.J.; Malebana, I.M.; Madibela, O.R.; Boitumelo, W.M.; Lukuyu, B.; Weseh, A.; Minani, E.; Adesogan, A.T.; University of Florida ; Mekelle Univ. Dep. of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences ; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) ; Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation ; ARC-Animal Production ; University of Free State ; Directorate: Animal Sciences ; Botswana Univ. of Agriculture & Natural Resources ; International Livestock Research Institute ; University for Development StudiesForage conservation is an important potential solution to seasonal variation in feed quality and quantity and herder-farmer conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Con-siderable variations exist in the type of forages conserved and the preservation meth-ods across SSA. Hay from cultivated forages is commonly made with mechanical mowers and balers by large-scale commercial farms. In contrast, smallholder farm-ers, who dominate farming on the continent, make hay from natural pastures and straw from crop residues or stockpiled forage. Mechanized harvesting and storing of silage are also practiced by commercial farmers in various countries including South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Smallholder farmers rarely make silage, despite repeated recommendations about its potential to bridge the dry season feed gap. This is due to the limited resources, knowledge, and skills. Hay and silage produced by smallhold-ers is typically poor in quality due to use of lower quality forages, improper storage methods, and lack of an economic incentive because feed prices do not reflect quality in most regions. This paper discusses the status of forage conservation across SSA and recommends strategic interventions and technologies to improve the quantity, quality, safety, pricing, and utilization of preserved forages in SSA. Key deductions include the need to raise awareness about their role in bridging the feed gap, to build capacity and invest in appropriate technology, to optimize their production and use, to develop mechanisms to relate prices to quality, and to incentivize women and youth and the private sector to engage further in making and selling preserved forages.
