The role of women in the indigenous farming system of the Matengo highlands, Mbinga District, Ruvuma region

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Date

1997

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Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

This study on the role of women in the indigenous farming system of the Matengo highlands was done in three villages of Mbinga District. Interest in this study was prompted by the recognition that although there is an increasing number of studies on indigenous farming systems, few studies have concentrated on the role of gender in the development of the indigenous farming systems themselves. This has resulted into the neglect of the women's local innovation and knowledge systems by development planners and agencies, even though women are the ones mostly involved in the indigenous farming systems. The study described the indigenous farming system of the Matengo, and determined the role of women in the indigenous farming system, how the role of women in the indigenous farming system has changed over time, and women's and men's opinions on the existing gender division of labour. A cross-sectional design supplemented by an observation checklist were used in data collection. A total of 104 farmers with equal number of males and females were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Observation checklists were also utilized for twenty farmers out of 104 interviewed. Generally this study revealed that the Matengo system of farming is designed for the mountainous areas in order to reduce soil erosion and maintain the natural fertility of the soil. The gender distribution of work in the Matengo society leaves most of the tedious tasks of farming to women. However their contribution to non-ngoro farming activities cannot be ignored. Apart from their high contribution to ngoro activities as well as non-ngoro activities, the majority of women were not involved in decision making in the family. Also women were found to have less access to land, extension services and credit compared to men. Majority of women farmers suggested that the pattern of division of labour, land ownership and decision making should not be biased towards men in the ngoro system of farming. The disappearance of cooperative working {ngokela) and expansion of the ngoro farms in order to produce crops for sale was reported by the respondents to increase the labour requirement of women. It is recommended that serious sensitization programmes should be employed to open the minds of men towards equal contribution to the farm activities, to make women join various village organisations in order to know and to claim for their rights. Also the dissemination of extension services, credit and other services should target women more deliberately.

Description

Dissertation

Keywords

Indigenous farming, Farming system, Matengo highlands, Mbinga District

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