Factors influencing agricultural productivity among rural women in Mwea, a case of Mwea in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Abstract

Women perform crucial roles in domestic and economic life of the society but lack the resources and opportunities to be more productive. This greatly costs the society in terms of lost agriculture output, food security and economic growth. The objectives of this study are: to investigate the effects of access to resources on rural women agricultural productivity, to determine how literacy levels among women influence agricultural productivity, to establish the effects of access to finances on agricultural productivity, and to determine access of technology and emerging innovations on agricultural productivity. The Literature review focused on all the above mentioned objectives.

The Research design applied was Survey design. Target population was the rural women from Mwea Division in Kirinyaga County involved in farming. Questionnaires were used as the research instruments. Sample population was determined through Purposive random sampling. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Statistical and Data Management software's were applied

From the findings of this study it was noted that women lack control of major assets such as land, livestock and land machinery this limits women's ability to secure financial assistance as they lack the necessary collateral limiting them from obtaining funds to invest in farming. It was also observed that a big percentage of women in rural areas have no formal schooling. Most women had limited knowledge on the use of internet.

Findings show that mobile money services are more accessible and preferred by the respondents. The use of agricultural technology, including machinery was heavily skewed against low and middle income earners. Some of the recommendations are reviews or reform of land tenure, the simplification of lending processes so that illiterate and semi- literate rural women can effectively make use of credit facilities, the promotion of agribusiness in the rural areas as a source of business opportunities and employment, training of rural women on computer literacy