Agriculture plays a central economic role in most sub-Saharan African countries, generating an
average of 33% of GDP and employing, on average, 65% of the labor force. Most of the
agricultural labor force in the region is supplied by women, who are responsible for feeding their
families. However, low productivity remains a challenge, particularly among women farmers who
tend to have access to fewer resources. The challenge of low agricultural productivity of
female-owned farms has mainly been attributed to the lower rate of agricultural technology adoption
among women, compared to men. Although most agricultural technologies are gender neutral, the
project design and implementation may be biased towards men, hindering female participation. The objective of this study is to assess the gender differences in the adoption of push-pull technology
and other agricultural intensification practices. Providing a better understanding of gender
adoption gaps and the causes of these gaps will offer key information for designing promising
agricultural policy options to boost cereal productivity, increase income growth, improve
food security, and reduce poverty for both male and female farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
