Bargaining-Power and Biofortification: The Role of Gender in Adoption of Orange Sweet Potato in Uganda

Daniel Gilligan, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Neha Kumar, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Scott McNiven, University of California, Davis
J.V. Meenakshi, Delhi School of Economics
Agnes R. Quisumbing, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

We examine the role of gender in adoption and diffusion of orange sweet potato, a biofortified crop being promoted to increase dietary intakes of vitamin A in Uganda. Intrahousehold gender dynamics and female bargaining power may play an important role in crop choice, child feeding practices and technology diffusion through information networks in this intervention. Using data from an experimental evaluation, we find that the share of assets controlled by women does not affect the probability that a household adopts OSP. Within households, plots of land exclusively controlled by women are not more likely to contain OSP, but plots under joint control of men and women, in which a woman has primary control over decisionmaking are significantly more likely to contain OSP. The share of nonland assets controlled by women increases dietary intakes of vitamin A, but does not increase the impact of the OSP project on vitamin A intakes.