Abstract
Although on-farm research in severalparts of Africa suggests positive prospects for theadoption of hedgerow intercropping, this paper arguesthat the implications of intra-household processeshave not been considered in sufficient details. Suchinformation is necessary for targeting the technologyto specific socio-cultural localities and categoriesof producers and for anticipating adoption trends.Based on three case materials, two from southernNigeria and one from western Kenya, it examines howthe gender division of labor, decision-making, andareas of responsibility and inter-generational landallocation patterns determine that the interests andneeds of certain household members are met, often atthe expense of others. The tendency of agriculturalresearchers to ignore the intra-household dimension isattributed to the frequent absence of sociologists andanthropologists as integral members of research teamsand the use of research methodologies that areinappropriate for uncovering the complexities ofintra-household issues.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achola, M. A. (1991), “Women groups in Siaya District: Objectives, constraints and achievements,” in G. Ware (ed.), Women and Development in Kenya: Siaya District. Institute of African Studies, University of Nairobi.
Afonja, S. (1988), “Land control: A critical factor in Yoruba gender stratification,” in C. Robertson and I. Berger (eds.), Women and Class in Africa. New York: Africana Publishing Company.
Akyeampong, E., B. Duguma, A. M. Heinemann, C. S. Kamara, P. Kiepe, F. Kwesiga, C. K. Ong, H. J. Otieno, and M. R. Rao (1995), “A Synthesis of ICRAF's research on alley cropping,” in B. Kang, A. O. Osiname, and A. Larbi (eds.), Alley Farming Research and Development. Proceedings of the international conference on alley farming, 14–18 September 1992, Ibadan, Nigeria: AFNETA.
Atta-Krah, A. N., and P. A. Francis (1986), “The role of onfarm trials in the evaluation of alley farming,” in IDRC, Proceedings of an InternationalWorkshop on Alley Farming in the Humid and SubHumid Tropics. Ibadan, Nigeria.
Ayiecho, P. O. (1991), “The role of women in agriculture: Siaya District,” in G. Ware (ed.), Women and Development in Kenya: Siaya District. Institute of African Studies, University of Nairobi.
Cashman, K. (1990), Alley Farming in SouthWestern Nigeria: A Grounded Theory of Yoruba Women and Agricultural Change. Ph. D. dissertation, Iowa State University.
Chavangi, N. (1987), “Agroforestry potential and land tenure issues in Western Kenya,” in J. Raintree (ed.), Land, Trees and Tenure: Proceedings of an International Workshop on Tenure Issues in Agroforestry. Land Tenure Center and ICRAF.
David, S. (1995), “What do farmers think? Farmer evaluation of hedgerow intercropping under semiarid conditions,” Agroforestry Systems32: 15–28.
David, S. (1996), “You become one in marriage: Domestic budgeting among the Kpelle of Liberia,” Canadian Journal of African Studies30(2): 157–182.
David, S., and R. Swinkels (1994), SocioEconomic Characteristics of Households Engaged in Agroforestry Technology Testing inWestern Kenya. AFRENA Report no. 78. ICRAF: Nairobi.
Fabiyi, Y. L., E. O. Idowu, and E. A. Adedoja (1991), “The implications of land tenure system for the adoption of alley farming by women in Southern Nigeria,” Research report submitted to the Land Tenure Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Francis, P. A. (1986), “Land tenure systems and the adoption of alley farming,” in IDRC, Proceedings of an International Workshop on Alley Farming in the Humid and SubHumid Tropics. Ibadan, Nigeria.
Francis, P. A., and A. N. AttaKrah (1988), “Incorporating gender concerns into on farm research: The household and alley farming in SouthWestern Nigeria,” ILCA: Ibadan. Mimeo.
Francis, P. A., and A. N. AttaKrah (1989), “Sociological and ecological factors in technology adoption: Fodder trees in Southeast Nigeria,” Experimental Agriculture25: 1–10.
Guyer, J. (1980), “Food, cocoa and the division of labor by sex in two West African societies,” Comparative Studies in Society and History22: 355–373.
Guyer, J. (1988), “Dynamic approaches to domestic budgeting: Cases and methods from Africa,” in D. Dwyer and J. Bruce (eds.), A Home Divided: Women and Income in the Third World, pp. 155–172. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Hoekstra, D. (1982), “Leucaena leucocephalahedgerows intercropped with maize and beans: An ex ante analysis of a candidate agroforestry land use system for the semiarid areas in Machakos District, Kenya,” Agroforestry Systems1: 335–345.
IFPRI (1992), Understanding how resources are allocated within households. IFPRI Policy Brief no 8, IFPRI, Washington, DC.
Jabbar, M. A. (1990), “Methodology for incorporating gender concerns into farming systems research: A Nigerian experience,” Paper presented at the 10th Annual Farming Systems Symposium, October 14–17, 1990, Michigan State University.
Koudokpon, V., M. N. Verstedg, P. Adegbola, and A. Budelman (1992), “Hedgerow intercropping on the Adja Plateau, South Benin: Its Development and Adoption by Farmers,” Paper presented at the International Conference on Alley Cropping, September 14–18, 1992, IITA.
Mackintosh, M. (1989), Gender, Class and Rural Transformation: Agribusiness and the Food Crisis in Senegal. London: Zed Press.
McKee, K. (1986), “Household analysis as an aid to farming systems research: Methodological issues,” in J. Moock (ed.), Understanding Africa’s Rural Households and Farming Systems. Boulder: Westview Press.
Moock, J. (ed.) (1986), Understanding Africa’s Rural Households and Farming Systems. Boulder: Westview Press.
Moock, J. (1986), “Introduction,” in J. Moock (ed.), Understanding Africa’s Rural Households and Farming Systems. Boulder: Westview Press.
Morris, R. A., and D. P. Garrity (1993), “Resource capture and utilization in intercropping: water,” Field Crops Research3: 303–317.
Ndufa, J. K., E. Ohlsson, and K. Shepherd (1992), “Participatory research methods for agroforestry technology development in Western Kenya,” Paper presented at the 12th Annual Farming Systems Symposium, September 13–18, 1992, Michigan State University.
Okali, C. (1984), Final Report to the Ford Foundation, New York (Grant number 8351094), ILCA: Ibadan.
Okali, C., and J. Sumberg (1985), “Sheep and goats, men and women: Household relations and small ruminant development in Southwest Nigeria,” Agricultural Systems18: 39–59.
Okali, C., and K. Cassidy (1985), Community Response to a Pilot Alley Farming Project. African-American Issues Center Discussion Paper, African Studies Center, Boston University.
Pala, A. O. (1978), “Women's access to land and their role in agriculture and decision-making on the farm: Experiences of the Joluo of Kenya,” Discussion Paper No. 263, Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi.
Palada M. C. (1989), “Onfarm research methods for alley cropping,” in B. T. Kang and L. Reynolds (eds.), Alley Farming in the Humid and Subhumid Tropics. Proceedings of an international workshop held at Ibadan, Nigeria, March 10–14, 1986, pp. 84–91.
Poats, S., M. Schmink, and A. Spring (1988), Gender Issues in Farming Systems Research and Extension. Boulder: Westview Press.
Raintree, J., and F. Turay (1980), “Linear programming model of an experimental Leucaenarice alley cropping system,” IITA Research Briefs1(4): 5–7.
Reynolds, L. (1989), “Involving farmers in integrated croplivestock research: Lessons from alley farming research,” in B. Keflewahid, N. George, and I. Lembuye (eds.), Proceedings from a SACCAR/WINROCK Workshop on Integrated Agricultural Research. Lilongwe, Malawi.
Rochleau, D. (1987), “Women, trees and tenure: Implications for agroforestry research and development,” in J. Raintree (ed.), Land, Trees and Tenure: Proceedings of an International Workshop on Tenure Issues in Agroforestry. Land Tenure Center and ICRAF.
Shepherd, K., and J. H. Rogers (1991), Approaches to OnFarm Testing and Evaluation of Agroforestry Technology. ICRAF Working Paper No. 67.
Staudt, K. (1984), “Agricultural policy implementation: A case study from Western Kenya,” Case Studies of the Impact of LargeScale Development Projects on Women, Population Council(penultimate draft).
Suda, C. (1991), “Female labour contribution in home management and agricultural production in Siaya District,” in G. Ware (ed.), Women and Development in Kenya: Siaya District. Institute of African Studies, University of Nairobi.
Sumberg, J., and C. Okali (1988), “Farmers, onfarm research and the development of new technology,” Experimental Agriculture24: 333–342.
Swinkels, R., and S. Franzel (1995), “Adoption potential of hedgerow intercropping in maizebased cropping systems in the highlands of Western Kenya: Economic and farmer evaluation,” Draft manuscript.
Swinkels, R., W. Muturi, and A. Heineman (1991), “Evaluation of hedgerow intercropping on farms inWestern Kenya: Economic analysis using on-station and on-farm data,” Paper presented at the Zonal Conference of the Eastern and Central African Agroforestry Network, July 8–10, 1991.
Vaughan, M. (1985), “Household units in Southern Malawi,” Review of African Political Economy(34): 34–45.
Verinumbe, I., H. C. Knipscheer, and E. E. Enabor (1984), “The economic potential of leguminous tree crops in zerotillage cropping in Nigeria: A linear programming model,” Agroforestry Systems2: 129–138.
Vogel, W. O. (1986), “Economic returns of alley cropping,” in IDRC, Proceedings of an International Workshop on Alley Farming in the Humid and Sub-Humid Tropics. Ibadan, Nigeria.
Welden, C. W., and W. L. Slauson (1986), “The intensity of competition versus its importance: An overlooked distinction and some implications,” Quarterly Review of Biology61: 23–44.
Wilk, R. (ed.) (1989), The Household Economy: Reconsidering theDomestic Mode of Production. Boulder: Westview Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
David, S. Intra-household processes and the adoption of hedgerow intercropping. Agriculture and Human Values 15, 31–42 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007410716663
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007410716663