Influence of technology on gender division of labour in households: The case study of wet coffee post-harvest handling in Kasese District

Abstract

This study was aimed at finding out how the Wet Coffee Post harvest handling Technology (WCPT) has changed the way labor is divided in farming households of Kasese District as well as advantages and disadvantages of the WCPT and Dry Coffee Post harvest handling Technology (DCPT). The study was also carried out to determine the relationship between gender, access and control over income among WCPT and DCPT households. To achieve the above, descriptive research survey was conducted on 120 farmers among which 60 were using the WCPT and 60 were using the DCPT. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer program. Analysis of the survey utilized percentages, means, chi-square and correlations. It was found that among both the dry and wet coffee processors women were doing more work than men but women’s work loads had significantly increased in WCPT user households. Generation of coffee that attracts higher prices and technology being less expensive were the main advantages for farmers choice of WCPT and DCPT respectively. The main disadvantage of WCPT was that of being labor intensive while the main disadvantages of DCPT was generation of coffee that attracts low prices. Men had more access to coffee income than women among both wet and dry coffee processors. Women had more access to cassava income than men among wet coffee processors while access to cassava income among dry coffee processors was gender neutral. Access to other household incomes was also gender neutral for WCPT and DCPT users. Men were controlling most of coffee income among both WCPT and DCPT users. Women were controlling cassava income among both the WCPT and DCPT users. It was recommended that WCPT be promoted in a modified form that is less labor intensive. The study be replicated in other wet coffee processing District of Uganda to compare results with those of this research.