FR1.3: Coping with Stressors along the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Evidence to Strengthen Gender-Responsive Breeding and Inform Resilience

This study investigates gender perspectives on climate change (CC) and conflict stressors surrounding the cassava value-chain (VC) in Nigeria. Research Question(s): A State of Knowledge review identified the need to inquire into coping strategies and the preferred stressor-related cassava traits by specifically asking, "In what ways do gender roles and norms influence these". Methodology: Data elicited from 187 cassava farmers, 15 Key Informants and 63 VC Focus Group participants were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Key findings: The study validates CC as a key factor in increased conflicts. Farmer-herder clashes, communal clashes and land disputes exacerbate the emergence of farm burning, theft and influence the kind of cassava food product made. This shapes stressor-related trait preferences like ‘early re-emergence of leaves after grazing', ‘short stem', ‘ratooning potential', and ‘stem-longevity' among men and women farmers and ‘multi-purpose suitability of roots' among processors/marketers mainly women. Coping mechanisms include relocating farms, migration and fragmented farming among men, and choice of food with less processing steps, backyard farming, forcing daughter's premature marriage and dependence on remittances from husbands among women. Resilience capacity is generally low, but men have a higher overall resilience capacity (t = 5.45) and level of access to assets (t = 6.698) which facilitate coping strategies like ‘relocating farms', migration and ‘fragmented farming'. Relevance and Implication of findings: Results present gendered coping strategies, corresponding stressor-related traits, as additional aspects important when evaluating the gender impact of breeding strategies concerning the positive benefits for, and possible harm to cassava users and especially women engaged in the cassava VC activities

FR1.1: The process to "Gender Expert" in gender and agriculture: Learning from the GREAT model

The goals of gender equity and the resulting increased attention to and funding for gender mainstreaming have increased the number of gender experts. This is true throughout policy and development organizations, as well as agricultural research institutes as donors and program requirements demand social equity goals. While previous discussions have focused on the experience of gender experts within institutions, there is limited discussion on how gender experts acquire their expertise and whether there are variations among this expertise. The Gender-responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT) provides a unique opportunity to consider the "gender expert" in agriculture and rural development. Using the GREAT model as the context, this paper examines the potential of gender trainings to support the development of gender expertise, and the limitations of that process. The result is an examination of the term "gender expert" and its use given the diversity of knowledge and experience that can fall under its understanding