FR2.2: Gender-based assessment of rice and rice seed production in Nioro hub, Senegal Maimouna Ndour CGIAR GENDER Science Exchange, Nairobi, 12-14 October 2022 Context • Rice is grown mainly in 2 different ecologies in Senegal: • Irrigated in the northern part of the country • Rainfed in the Central and southern part • Rice production in the rainfed ecology: a traditional activity for women mainly as a food crop. Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Context • An increase in rice demand is causing a ‘de-feminization’ of rice cropping in rainfed ecology: • The country’ self-sufficiency goal relies on the expectation to produce rice in the rainfed ecology by at least 40 % of National demand. • More investment is directed to the rainfed rice system and that is transforming rice to a cash crop : • more attractive for men who are becoming involved in growing upland rice After the introduction of varieties suitable to upland ecologies • Women stay stuck in lowland ecology: • constraints of climate changes and access to improved adapted technologies • competition with men. Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Context • ‘De-feminization’ and exclusion in rainfed rice systems ➢Feminization: men’s role in agriculture decline and gives more opportunity to women such as control over finances • De-feminization: • men’s role increases in upland ecology • but women become worse off in terms of workload (still have to work on man’s plot) • Women lose control over income and the household food opportunity • Exclusion: • Threats of salinity, drought, flood and toxicity in lowland rainfed systems are not adequately addressed • Women abandoned rice farming in some areas • The role of women & contribution in households are compromised. Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Objective • Empowering women through their inclusion in rice research and development programs: • investigate the women and men specific needs and challenges; • identifying sustainable suitable business models for women farmers; • pilot viable and sustainable business models for women for adoption and dissemination. Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Methodology • Data collection: • qualitative enquiries through focus group discussions: to identify the constraints in rice farming and to assess the producer’s awareness of stress tolerant varieties. • quantitative investigation: 180 respondents in assessment of business models. • An interdisciplinary action research: • Breeding: provision of stress tolerant varieties to test with women in the lowland rainfed ecology; • Seed expertise: production seeds as an entry point, hence technical capacity building, monitoring and certification • Value chain economy: enterpreneurship for women • Integrative gender research: gender-responsiveness Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Results (1) FG • Constraints in rice farming Men Women • Lower experience in rice • Limited acces to land production than women • Salinity in the lowland • Drought • Drought • Lack of agricultural • Lack of agricultural equipment equipment • Lack of certified seeds • Lack of seeds of rice stress tolerant varieties Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Results (2) • Selected stress tolerant varieties for lowland rainfed rice Variety Cycle (Day) Potential Characteristics yield(T/ha) ISRIZ 10 122 11 Tolerant to salinity ISRIZ 11 105 12 Tolerant to salinity Sahel 210 125 12 Tolerant to salinity ARICA 11 109 9.3 Tolerant to salinity ARICA 6 115 10 Tolerant to Iron toxicity NERICA-L- 127 8 Tolerant to Iron toxicity 19-qRL6.1 ISRIZ 12 120 10.5 Aromatic and Tolreant to drought Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Interdisciplinary action • Distribution of seeds Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Interdisciplinary action • Distribution of seeds: kits of (3kg) rice foundation seed to 154 women farmers Zone Village Women Responsible Total kg/kit Varieties/Nomber group Nomber Of kits kits Central Variété Kit 50 3 Sahel 134 24 Fatick Diofior SAAX Jam Agent Ancar ISRIZ 12 05 Sahel 210 21 Ndef 53 3 Sahel 210 24 Kaolack Nema Ba leng Sahel 134 16 Missirah Fodé Agent Ancar ISRIZ 10 09 Senghor ISRIZ 11 04 Southern Tamba et Agent Sodagri 51 3 NERICA 22 Kolda et L19 Ancar Sahel 210 17 Gender Science Exchange Sahel 134 12 Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Interdisciplinary action Women plots Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Results (3) • Seed production - Central Senegal Zones Village Women group Area (Ha) Variety Production/t Remarks Kaolack Missirah Fode Senghor 1.9 ha Sahel 210, Sahel 134, 2.146 Good resistance to salinity. ISRIZ 10, ISRIZ 11 Fatick Diofior SAAX JAAM 4,25 Sahel 210, Sahel 134, 0,942 Early rain stop ISRIZ 12 Tamba Koulor Guem sa Bop 0,5 Sahel 134 00 Damaged by animal counda Sinthian GPF Kawral : Sahel 134 0,024 Koundara (Djida) Velingara GPF Balale : 350m Sahel 210 0,050 Foulbé Velingara Kounkane Kaural 2200 Sahel 134 0,405 Kolda Fafacourou GPF Tassito 350 m2 Sahel 210 00 Early rain stop Kerewan Wakilare 0.125 ha Sahel 210 0,07 MYF Koulinto Khal gonga 50 m2 Sahel 134 00 Early rain stop kadiamary Nioro Djiguimar Coopérative de 1ha Sahel 210 2.580 Djiguimar Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Total 6.217 Results (3) • Seed production - southern Senegal Production Village Variety Seed production area (Ha) Zone /kg Sare Moussa Meta Nerica L19 0,25 970 Kolda Sinthiang Bakary Sahel 134 0,25 600 Ngoudoumane Sahel 210 0,20 1200 Kolda Ngoudoumane Nerica L19 0,20 768 Nerica L19 0.05 165 Sahel 134 0.05 100 Sahel 134 0.05 240 Sahel 134 0.05 240 Sahel 134 0.05 80 Ziguinchor Kabiline Sahel 134 0.05 110 Sahel 134 0.05 100 Nerica L19 0.05 219 Sahel 134 0.05 234 Gender SciSeanhce lE 1xc3h4ange 0.05 245 Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Total 5637 Results (4) • Seed production as a profitable business • Collective sales: a local farm organization bought certified seeds from women Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Lessons learnt & the way forward • Lessons: • Success of interdisciplinary approach for impact • Expanded learning as a gender researcher • Way forward: • Scaling intervention to 20 villages • Study: quantitative and qualitative evidence of the effect of women’s engagement in seed production on their empowerment. Gender Science Exchange Nairobi, 12 – 14 October 2022 Thank You!