1. Gender inclusivity through maize breeding in Africa: A review of the issues and options for future engagement.
- Author
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Voss, Rachel C., Donovan, Jason, Rutsaert, Pieter, and Cairns, Jill E.
- Subjects
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PLANT breeding , *CROP yields , *AGRICULTURAL development , *SOCIAL integration , *GENDER , *CORN breeding , *CORN - Abstract
With the prioritization of social inclusion in agricultural development, donors and research centers have shown growing interest in gender-intentional varietal development and delivery. Breeding maize varieties that respond to gender-based differences in trait preferences now represents a central objective of maize R&D in the CGIAR and elsewhere. Drawing on literature on gender and maize seed adoption, variety preferences, and seed system constraints, we take stock of knowns and unknowns related to gender-responsive and gender-intentional maize breeding. While recent research on farmers' variety preferences across crops has yielded insights into gender-based differences, we find that evidence of gender-differentiated preferences for maize varieties remains inconclusive. Ultimately, we identify several research priorities to support gender-intentional maize breeding, including a more nuanced understanding of gender relations in maize production and maize seed decision-making, new and more gender-responsive approaches to measuring farmer preferences and seed demand more broadly, and research to address operational challenges in gender-intentional breeding. We close by identifying some institutional constraints to achieving impact through gender-intentional maize breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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