11.  SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES IN AGROFORESTRY

11.3 Gender

The gender factor in relation to tree growing covers the roles that male and female family members play in tree planting, tending and harvesting. In different societies there are differences in responsibilities, user rights, legal status, division of labour, decision making, etc., between men and women.

Much research has focused on the role of women in agriculture and resource management. It has been recognized that women in Kenya perform a large share of the farm work in addition to all the other duties that are traditionally the responsibility of women. Social changes such as most children now going to school and men being increasingly busy with off-farm work have added to women's workloads. Increased population pressure and settlements on former large-scale farms have often resulted in women having problems with access to fuelwood and other commodities. The disappearance of indigenous fruit trees has made children more dependent on "home food", also making women more busy.

Traditionally the man is the most influential member in Kenyan families, and he is also regarded as the owner of the land the family occupies. Traditionally, women and children own property only if the husband/father has died. In recent years, however, it has become common for single women to buy land for their children or for their own future use. Sometimes a father may also give land to his daughters who do not marry.

The situation regarding tree tenure and gender varies in different parts of the country: in some areas tree planting is clearly dominated by men (justified by the fact that men are the owners of the land), and trees are markers of ownership. In other parts, women have more freedom to plant, manage and even cut trees.

In Kakamega a lack of women's participation in tree planting is sustained through various taboos and beliefs. Examples are beliefs that if a woman plants trees her husband will die, or that she will be barren. Since traditionally childbearing is the only guarantee of stability in marriage, no woman would dare plant trees for fear of becoming barren. Similarly the life of a widow is difficult and no woman would plant trees if doing so is seen as a threat to her husband's life. Older women who already have the number of children they want can, however, plant trees and often do so (Chavangi, 1989).

Men and women may sometimes have different views with regard to the most favoured tree species. Since construction is mostly in the man's domain, he naturally has a strong interest in trees yielding good poles and timber, whereas women frequently show more interest in fruit trees and trees that yield fuelwood.

Figure 11.3 It is always important to get the views of both men and women

Division of labour according to gender also needs consideration in agroforestry extension. Women usually have longer work days than men, and the time they can devote to agroforestry may be limited. An agroforestry intervention that is recommended to alleviate women's burden in the collection of fuelwood, for example, may temporarily call for more work to plant additional trees near the house. Such an initiative may still be viable, however, if the long-term gain is clearly seen to outweigh the additional short-term work.

As a general conclusion, it is important to get the whole family involved in discussions on agroforestry. All family members have ideas and knowledge to contribute, and their individual needs and priorities should be taken into account in order to make the best use of available resources.