Women’s participation in agricultural decision-making and the adequacy of their households’ diets

Abstract

This study explores the participation of 135 married women in agricultural decisionmaking in a cross-sectional study in central Uganda. Data was collected from nine randomly selected villages in nine parishes utilising a survey tool combining elements from the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index and the Household Dietary Diversity Score. Rigorous editing and categorisation preceded SPSS analysis, including binary logistic regression to explore factors influencing participation. Results showed that men owned more crucial agricultural assets especially land and equipment than women, but a shift was observed in livestock ownership, with women favoring pigs and chicken. The study showed generally low participation in decision making levels among women, especially in financial decisions, mirroring traditional gender roles. They also had limited engagement in agricultural extension/advisory services (20%) and community groups (45.2%). Women with low decision-making capacity showed limited dietary diversity, relying heavily on staples, falling below the food security threshold. Membership in community groups and access to credit significantly influenced women’s participation in decision-making. Access to credit increased the probability of high participation by 2.212 times, while membership in community groups increased it by 4.015 times. The study recommends that tailored credit services should be instituted to enhance women decision-making power and to foster gender equality. Education and awareness campaigns encouraging involvement of women in community groups and association for better access to services are also recommended.