The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Risk and Vulnerability
Dryland Agriculture in Kenya: Gendered risks, Vulnerabilities and Research Gaps
Abstract:
The drylands of Kenya that comprise of Arid and Semi-Arid
Lands (ASALs) make up about 80% of the total land area and
support approximately 30% of the population, mainly pastoralists
and agro-pastoralists. They are home to most of wildlife and
other resources including minerals, precious stones, building
materials, sources of energy and medicinal herbs. Although they
contribute about 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), this is
mainly through livestock production, implying that their potential
is far from full exploitation. Hence, many resources lie
unexploited in the midst of great want. The agricultural activities
in these areas are mainly pastoralism and dryland farming that
are challenged by weather variability and poorly developed
‘bazaar’ among other factors. Indeed, the livelihood options
come with great risks that largely take socio-economic
dimensions. In particular, gendered risks present much
vulnerability to both men and women with varied consequences
on both. This paper examines these risks and vulnerabilities
from a gender perspective.
Les terres sèches du Kenya, qui comprennent des terres arides
et semi-arides (ASAL), représentent environ 80% de la
superficie totale des terres et soutiennent environ 30% de la
population, principalement des éleveurs et agro-éleveurs. Elles
abritent beaucoup plus la faune et d’autres ressources, y compris
les minéraux, les pierres précieuses, les matériaux de
construction, les sources d’énergie et les herbes médicinales.
Bien qu’elles représentent environ 5% du produit intérieur brut
(PIB), ceci est principalement grâce à la production du bétail,
ce qui implique que leur potentiel est loin d’être en pleine
exploitation. Par conséquent, de nombreuses ressources gisent
inexploitées au milieu d’une grande pauvreté. Les activités
agricoles dans ces zones sont principalement l’élevage etl’agriculture des terres arides qui sont remis en cause par la
variabilité du climat et ont peu développé le bazar entre autres
facteurs. En effet, les options des moyens de subsistance
viennent avec de grands risques qui prennent largement des
dimensions socio-économiques. En particulier, les risques liés
au genre présentent beaucoup de vulnérabilité aux hommes ainsi
qu’aux femmes, avec des conséquences diverses sur les deux
sexes. L’essentiel de cet article est d’identifier ces risques et
les vulnérabilités dans une perspective liée au genre.
Language:
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Risk and Vulnerability
Date of publication:
2012
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Notes:
