Gendered dynamics in agricultural production relations and rural livelihood interventions in the Sunyani Municipality

Abstract

The success of the agricultural economy in many developing countries is challenged, mainly because women who represent a crucial resource are largely constrained in the access to productive resources Researchers have demonstrated that cultural norms and values strongly influence access to productive resources. Development agencies in response to productive constraints provide programmes to improve rural livelihoods. The outcomes of these projects are however not always successful. The study sought to explain how agricultural production relations shape gendered responses to rural livelihood interventions in the Sunyani Municipality. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and specifically, the explanatory design. The purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents for focus group discussions, in-depth and key person interviews. The secondary data was analysed using gender analytical tools from the Moser Framework and the Social Relations Approach. The primary data was thematically analysed. The study found that men as household heads structurally controlled production relations and therefore had better access and control than women. All but one of the selected interventions was gender aware. Responses to interventions were gendered with men inclined to crop related interventions and the women, to those offering off-farm livelihood diversification. The study concluded that production relations affected the nature of responses to any intervention. It recommended that interventions should be planned in view of contextual production relations so as to address relations between men and women. Women farmers should also endeavour to form farmer groups to develop their agency.