Assessing gender roles and differences in coffee production and marketing in Kyabugimbi sub-county Bushenyi district Uganda

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess gender issues in coffee production and marketing in Kyabugimbi sub county Bushenyi district Uganda. It was to determine the roles that men, women, and children play in coffee production and marketing, to assess the challenges faced by women in coffee production and marketing, to assess the effect of gender on coffee productivity in the study area. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from farmers through interviews using questionnaires. The target sample was 80 coffee farmers from Kyabugimbi sub county Bushenyi district who were randomly selected. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics mainly frequencies and percentages were used on objective one and two. A linear regression analysis was run to analyze effect of gender on coffee productivity. Data presentation was in form of tables and figures to help and interpret findings and generate conclusions that aided solution to identified challenges. The research established that sex of the household head, number of years in school, number of people in the household and number of extension visits had no significant influence on coffee productivity compared age of the farmer, and distance to the tarmac road that had a significant effect on coffee productivity. The study revealed that women are more involved in coffee production but excluded at marketing stage. It also revealed that women have limited access to resources. The study recommended that Government should empower women to have access to resources like land and credit.