Gender disparities in agricultural land access and cashew farming participation in Kintampo South District, Ghana

Abstract

This study examines gender disparities in access to agricultural land and participation, using a sample of 200 cashew farmers in the Kintampo South District of Ghana and descriptive statistical analysis. The study assesses land tenure status, benefits from cashew production and levels of participation by gender. The results suggest significant gender inequalities with male farmers experiencing greater access to land, property rights, and economic benefits than female farmers, who in most cases face deep-rooted systematic barriers in existing customary land practices. Against all odds and with limited control over resources, women are actively involved in cashew farming. The Theory of Access (ToA) and the FAO's Factors and Institutions Framework were used to conceptualise these inequalities. The research highlights the urgent need for gender-responsive land policies, improved access to credit and agricultural extension services, and structural reforms that promote equitable participation in agricultural value chains, especially at the production level. The research contributes to the understanding of the socio-economic dynamics affecting gender roles in agriculture, particularly in the Ghanaian community context of cashew farming.