Dynamics of Gender Preferences for Farm Investment Strategies in Rwanda: A Best-worst Scaling Experiment

Abstract

Gender gaps affect how women and men access, participate and benefit from the adoption of various farm investment strategies, environmental conservation and sustainable development. Production, conservation, and livelihood strategies are motivated by land and household decision-making dynamics. Understanding gender preference dynamics on investment fills a gap in the gendered division of labor, market participation and agricultural transformation.  The study adopted a household survey on 653 male and female respondents in the Burera, Gakenke and Musanze districts of Northern Rwanda. Analysis revealed three farm investment strategies in relation to the relative importance for the agricultural transformation process: the best (>85%), intermediate (between 60% and 85%), and low (<60%). Male and females had varied preferences (positive or negative) for the strategies. Females preferred livelihood strategies that combined on-farm and off-farm sources. The study recommends the adoption of diversified production and livelihood strategies to improve farm investment and market access. Land systems should consider youth inclusion as a dynamic factor in household decision making, women empowerment and agricultural transformation.