An assessment of the participation of women and men in the community market conservation programme in the Luangwa Valley Region
type: CreativeWork
description: This study investigated the participation of women and men in the Community Market Conservation Programme (COMACO) in the Luangwa Valley region. The purpose of the study was to assess the extent to which women and men participated in COMACO. The study was conducted in Mfuwe in Mambwe District in Eastern Province from August to October, 2008. In order to collect both qualitative and quantitative data, questionnaires and focus group discussions were used. A total number of 150 respondents, 75 males and 75 females drawn from Mkhanya and Nsefu chiefdoms provided information for the study. 100 of the respondents, 50 males and 50 females responded to questionnaires. 50 respondents, 25 males and 25 females participated in five focus group discussions of which 3 were, of mixed sex and 2 were single sex discussions. The study findings revealed that both women and men participated in production, marketing and decision making in the programme. In general, there was rather a gender balance with regards to access to land, access to ready markets, access to foodstuffs,crop diversification and both women and men obtained the same prices for the produce they sold.However, the study established gender inequalities in various aspects of the programme.For instance, more men than women dominated in the programme's decision making positions. The entire producer group chairpersons were men. Men also dominated in the positions of vice chairperson and secretary. On the contrary, more women than men occupied positions of treasurer and ordinary members. At COMACO's Community Trading Center, there were more women employed than men. However, women were not among the workers who received payments for specialized duties. In training, more women than men received improved farming techniques.The participation of women and men in the programme was hindered by socio-economic and cultural factors. Major factors that hindered women's participation in the programme included: cinamwali (female initiatio…
abstract: This study investigated the participation of women and men in the Community Market Conservation Programme (COMACO) in the Luangwa Valley region. The purpose of the study was to assess the extent to which women and men participated in COMACO. The study was conducted in Mfuwe in Mambwe District in Eastern Province from August to October, 2008. In order to collect both qualitative and quantitative data, questionnaires and focus group discussions were used. A total number of 150 respondents, 75 males and 75 females drawn from Mkhanya and Nsefu chiefdoms provided information for the study. 100 of the respondents, 50 males and 50 females responded to questionnaires. 50 respondents, 25 males and 25 females participated in five focus group discussions of which 3 were, of mixed sex and 2 were single sex discussions. The study findings revealed that both women and men participated in production, marketing and decision making in the programme. In general, there was rather a gender balance with regards to access to land, access to ready markets, access to foodstuffs,crop diversification and both women and men obtained the same prices for the produce they sold.However, the study established gender inequalities in various aspects of the programme.For instance, more men than women dominated in the programme's decision making positions. The entire producer group chairpersons were men. Men also dominated in the positions of vice chairperson and secretary. On the contrary, more women than men occupied positions of treasurer and ordinary members. At COMACO's Community Trading Center, there were more women employed than men. However, women were not among the workers who received payments for specialized duties. In training, more women than men received improved farming techniques.The participation of women and men in the programme was hindered by socio-economic and cultural factors. Major factors that hindered women's participation in the programme included: cinamwali (female initiatio…
author: Muwamba, Chisha Chungu
language: en
keywords: Market Conservation, Community Market Conservation--Programme
date published: 2011-07-21
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:05:53Z
provider: University of Zambia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zambia