An Evaluation of women’s challenges in the utilisation of maize metal silo in Zimbabwe. A case of Makoni District.

Abstract

Maize grain postharvest storage losses are a challenge in Makoni District. To mitigate the challenge, NGOs in collaboration with Department of Agritex supplied maize metal silo technology to selected households as a pilot project. Women face several challenges in the utilisation of these new technologies. The study identified women’s challenges, determined women’s perceptions, evaluated socio-economic, cultural and institutional factors determining women’s roles in the utilisation of maize metal silo in the district. A purposive sampling method was used to select the 8 wards that benefited to the Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maizy (CIMMYT), Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Production for Increased Resilience and Economic Growth (INSPIRE) metal silo pilot projects. At wards, simple random sampling method was used to identify 185 women metal silo users from wards lists. Pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered on women metal silo utilizers. The data was analysed using descriptive analysis, Eta, KAP analytic framework, Spearman correlations and binary logistic regression analysis. The study results revealed that obtaining subsidy or credit facilities to purchase metal silo, accessing trainings on metal silo, and determining amount of grain consumed and amount of grain remaining in the metal silo are some of the challenges identified faced by women utilising metal silo. Eta revealed a very strong association (eta>0.5) between utilisation and challenges identified. The KAP analytic framework analysis results revealed that women are knowledgeable about the metal silo technology, appreciate the practices done on stored maize in the metal silo technology and have a positive attitude towards metal silo technology. There were strong positive significant correlations between K-P, K-A and A-P. The binary regression analysis revealed that household income level, household size, household labour force availability and level of education of household head and cultural or traditional beliefs have a significant effect in determining women’s role in the utilisation of maize metal silo. Women face challenges in the utilisation of maize metal silo in the district, though they have positive perceptions on metal silo technology. Socio-economic and cultural factors also impact on women’s roles in the utilisation of a maize metal silo in the district. There is need to address the socio-economic and cultural factors that impact negatively on women’s roles. Keywords: Metal silo, Challenges, Perceptions, Cultural-Socio-economic-factors, Women