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Gender discrimination and its impact on income, productivity, and technical efficiency: evidence from Benin

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  • Florent Kinkingninhoun-Mêdagbé
  • Aliou Diagne
  • Franklin Simtowe
  • Afiavi Agboh-Noameshie
  • Patrice Adégbola

Abstract

This paper examines the occurrence and impact of gender discrimination in access to production resources on the income, productivity, and technical efficiency of farmers. Through an empirical investigation of farmers from Koussin-Lélé, a semi-collective irrigated rice scheme in central Benin, we find that female rice farmers are particularly discriminated against with regard to scheme membership and access to land and equipment, resulting in significant negative impacts on their productivity and income. Although women have lower productivity, they are as technically efficient as men. The findings suggest that there is considerable scope for improving the productivity of women through increasing their access to production resources. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Suggested Citation

  • Florent Kinkingninhoun-Mêdagbé & Aliou Diagne & Franklin Simtowe & Afiavi Agboh-Noameshie & Patrice Adégbola, 2010. "Gender discrimination and its impact on income, productivity, and technical efficiency: evidence from Benin," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 27(1), pages 57-69, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:27:y:2010:i:1:p:57-69
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-008-9170-9
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