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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Kalyani Raghunathan

Kalyani Raghunathan is Research Fellow in the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit, based in New Delhi, India. Her research lies at the intersection of agriculture, gender, social protection, and public health and nutrition, with a specific focus on South Asia and Africa. 

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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experts

Innovation Policy and Scaling

Debdatta Sengupta

Senior Research Analyst

Bio

Debdatta Sengupta is a Senior Research Analyst with the Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit, and is based at IFPRI-Washington, DC.

Publications

Publications

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Journal Article

Genetically modified maize: Less drudgery for her, more maize for him?: Evidence from smallholder maize farmers in South Africa

2016Gouse, Marnus; Sengupta, Debdatta; Zambrano, Patricia; Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin
Details

Genetically modified maize: Less drudgery for her, more maize for him?: Evidence from smallholder maize farmers in South Africa

Genetically modified (GM) crop technologies have made great strides since its first introduction in 1996. Although there is an extensive and growing body of literature on the economic impact of the adoption of GM crops in both developing and developed economies, there is only scant evidence that the technology has had any specific and distinguishable impact among female and male farmers. In economies where female farmers and female household members have a significant and often differentiated role in agriculture production, it is crucial to be able to answer this question. This paper presents quantitative and qualitative results from a study of the gender-specific adoption and performance effects of insect resistant (Bt) and herbicide-tolerant (HT) maize produced by smallholder farmers in the Kwa Zulu Natal province in South Africa. The findings indicate that women farmers value the labor-saving benefit of HT maize alongside the stacked varieties which offer both insect control and labor saving. Higher yields are the main reason behind male adoption, while female farmers tend to favor other aspects like taste, quality, and the ease of farming herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops. Women farmers (and also children) saved significant time because less weeding is required, an activity that has traditionally been the responsibility of female farmers. The newer stacked varieties were preferred by both male and female farmers and seemed to be in high demand by both groups. However, lack of GM seed availability in the region and poor market access were possible limitations to the adoption and spread of the technology.

Year published

2016

Authors

Gouse, Marnus; Sengupta, Debdatta; Zambrano, Patricia; Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin

Citation

Gouse, Marnus; Sengupta, Debdatta; Zambrano, Patricia; and Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin. 2016. Genetically modified maize: Less drudgery for her, more maize for him? Evidence from smallholder maize farmers in South Africa. World Development 83(2016): 27 – 38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.03.008

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; Gender; Technology Adoption; Genetically Modified Foods; Maize; Smallholders; Women Farmers

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.03.008 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

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Report

GM agricultural technologies for Africa: A state of affairs

2014Chambers, Judith A.; Zambrano, Patricia; Falck-Zepeda, Jose B.; Gruère, Guillaume P.; Sengupta, Debdatta; Hokanson, Karen
Details

GM agricultural technologies for Africa: A state of affairs

The African Development Bank (AfDB), in commissioning this report to be prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), highlighted the need for a comprehensive, evidenced-based review of agricultural biotechnology in order to better understand its current status, issues, constraints, and opportunities for Africa. Agricultural biotechnology comprises several scientific techniques (genetic engineering, molecular marker-assisted breeding, the use of molecular diagnostics and vaccines, and tissue cul-ture) that are used to improve plants, animals, and microorganisms. However, in prepar-ing this desktop analysis, IFPRI has focused on genetic modification (GM) technologies in particular and on the agricultural context in which they are being applied, because GM technologies are at the center of the controversy about biotechnology’s role in Africa. In addition, because we have attempted to focus our review on peer-reviewed evidence and documented examples, the preponderance of data presented in the report is focused on genetically modified (also abbreviated GM) crops in use and under development, although we recognize the potential of the technology for livestock, fisheries, and forestry. Report of a study commissioned by the African Development Bank | Electronic version of English only.

Year published

2014

Authors

Chambers, Judith A.; Zambrano, Patricia; Falck-Zepeda, Jose B.; Gruère, Guillaume P.; Sengupta, Debdatta; Hokanson, Karen

Citation

Chambers, Judith A.; Zambrano, Patricia; Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin; Gruère, Guillaume P.; Sengupta, Debdatta and Hokanson, Karen. 2014. GM agricultural technologies for Africa: A state of affairs. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and African Development Bank (AfDB) http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/128215

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Innovation; Biotechnology; Natural Resources; Biofortification; Agricultural Technology; Plant Breeding; Agricultural Policies; Intellectual Property Rights; Agricultural Research; Agricultural Growth; Crop Improvement; Varieties; Trade; Productivity; Agricultural Development; Regulations; Genetically Modified Organisms; Risk; Genetic Markers; Biosafety

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Report

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Working Paper

Gender-specific approaches, rural institutions and technological innovations

2014Ragasa, Catherine; Sengupta, Debdatta; Osorio, Martha; OurabahHaddad, Nora; Mathieson, Kirsten
Details

Gender-specific approaches, rural institutions and technological innovations

This paper reviews and integrates findings from existing empirical studies and case studies received from 35 organizations in various countries to identify demand- and supply-side constraints and opportunities in access, adoption and impact of agricultural technological innovations. The most common technologies studied are improved seeds, fertilizers, farm mechanization, improved management practices, transporting technologies, and information and communication technologies. This review consistently finds that women have much lower observed rates of adoption of a wide range of technologies than men; and these are mainly due to differentiated access to complementary inputs and services. There are limited studies that looked at upstream stages including priority-setting and innovation processes, in which women continue to be underrepresented.

Year published

2014

Authors

Ragasa, Catherine; Sengupta, Debdatta; Osorio, Martha; OurabahHaddad, Nora; Mathieson, Kirsten

Citation

Ragasa, Catherine; Sengupta, Debdatta; Osorio, Martha; OurabahHaddad, Nora and Mathieson, Kirsten. 2014. Gender-specific approaches, rural institutions and technological innovations. Rome, Italy: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO); International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR). http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/129039

Keywords

Innovation; Gender; Agricultural Extension; Technology; Institutions; Rural Areas; Women; Governance

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Working Paper

Research

Projects

Topics/Countries