Gender relations and collective action : a case study of cassava farmer groups in rural Malawi

Sammanfattning

Background Farmer groups are widely recognised for advancing agricultural transformation and improving livelihoods. This is especially true among smallholder farmers and women in rural and peri-urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. But is this appeal supported by scientific evidence? In this study, we used smallholder farmers in Traditional Authority Mpama in Malawi to answer the following questions: (1)How do gender relations shape women's participation in cassava farmer groups? (2)What conditions enable women to benefit equally from cassava farmer groups? (3) How do local communities perceive factors affecting the participation of women in cassava farmer groups? Methods Data was collected using a convergent mixed-methods approach. We simultaneously conducted six focus group discussions (FGDs), ten key informant interviews, and household interviews in four purposively selected villages within Traditional Authority Mpama in Chiradzulu District, Malawi. FGD recordings were transcribed, coded, and qualitatively analysed using content analysis, while Interviews were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The findings reveal that (a) although women-only farmer groups improve women’s participation in agri-food systems, mixed gender farmer groups yield higher returns from cassava farming. (b)Despite women dominating cassava farmer groups, they lack decision-making power as patriarchal governance outcomes are evident in both women's groups and mixed gender groups.(c) Cultural norms, limited access to resources, and unequal power dynamics are perceived as the main barriers to women’s optimal participation in cassava farmer groups. Community perceptions further emphasise the need for targeted interventions to address these barriers and promote gender equality within the groups. Discussion The study provides a foundation for understanding gender relations and collective action by analysing gender dynamics within cassava farmer groups in rural Malawi, though its generalizability is limited by its single-case design. Future research should explore whether the tension between women-only groups, which boost participation, and mixed groups, which increase economic returns, holds across Malawi and other Sub-Saharan African contexts. Explicitly identifying patriarchal governance structures could aid comparative studies. It offers practical recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and farmers’ groups to improve collective efforts and ensure fair benefits, especially for women. Fostering collective action supports sustainable, inclusive rural development.