The impact of agricultural market liberalisation and commercialisation on gender relations in Uganda’s smallholder crop value chains: a case of white potatoes in Rubanda District

Abstract

This study examined the impact of agricultural market liberalisation and the subsequent shift toward more commercially oriented production on gender relations in smallholder crop value chains, focusing on white potatoes in Rubanda District, Southwestern Uganda. It set out to: establish the forms of value chains and gendered practices that have emerged; and analyse the effects of market-oriented reforms on gender roles, and power relations in the access to and management of production resources, and financial benefits. Guided by the Value Chain and outcome-focused Bargaining theories, the study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design grounded in the pragmatist paradigm. Data were collected through surveys, indepth and key informant interviews, focus group discussions, document analyses, and observations. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA 17 for descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were thematically analysed. Results revealed that liberalisation reforms and market forces have given rise to two typologies of value chains —digitally-aided and group-led—conceptualised as ‘modern’ value chains. These were, however, fused with traditional physical value chains. The study found no significant changes in most reproductive roles which largely remained women’s domain. In contrast, significant changes were observed in value chain roles; some upstream roles that were more gender-differentiated pre-reform, such as land clearing, planting, and weeding, became jointly undertaken, while midstream roles that were concentrated around women: harvesting, storage, and processing, became male-dominated. Remarkably, women increasingly participated in potato marketing, although the most lucrative long-distance trade remained male-dominated. The reforms further led to the emergence of dichotomous income streams for men and women, increasing women’s decision-making in some household affairs, mostly children’s education. However, the integration of potato farming into the cash economy, coupled with men’s increasing interest in the crop as a source of income, reinforced patriarchal authority at the household level, weakening women’s influence over decisions related to production resources, especially land and family labour. The study concludes that market-oriented reforms and accelerated commercialisation produced not only disempowering outcomes for women but also offered opportunities for increased agency and empowerment, pointing to the reforms’ transformative potential. To harness these opportunities while mitigating the negative effects, the study recommends enforcement of top-down policy interventions with bottom-up approaches focusing on transforming norms and perceptions within households and fostering gender justice. The study also underscores the need for context-specific and targeted strategies aimed at enhancing women’s capacities to participate in downstream segments of white potato value chains.