The Determinants of Adoption of Improved Maize Production Technologies among Farm Households in Quthing, Lesotho: A Gender Analysis

Maize is a major staple food in Lesotho, and it constitutes between 50% and 60% of an average household diet. Improved maize production technologies include hybrid seed, genetically modified crops, mechanised production, the use of herbicides, and synthetic fertilisers. This study defines a technology or innovation as any method of production introduced to a farmer that they do not use in their production methods. In most cases, due to a lack of access to production resources, women are at a disadvantage regarding access to and use of improved maize production technologies. Maize production objectives vary because of the different characteristics demanded by the market as well as the needs of the producer. Men tend to prefer high-yielding varieties to potentially sell the surplus. Women, on the other hand, are often interested in maize's culinary, processing, and nutritional qualities, as well as long-term storability and tolerance to shocks, such as climate variability. The main objective of the study was to investigate the gender gap in agricultural production with a focus on the adoption of technology of maize farm households in Quthing. The study obtained data from a randomly selected sample of 139 male-headed households and female-headed households producing maize in the study area. The distribution of the respondents according to gender was as follows; 80 male-headed households and 59 female-headed households. The study used descriptive statistics and a probit regression model for data analysis. The results of the study showed that more male (51.8%) farmers had adopted improved maize production technologies compared to their female counterparts (20.9%). Farming experience, household size, farmer training, and the variable distance to the agricultural office were common factors that drove the adoption of improved maize technologies by both male and female farmers. The variable member of a farmer group influenced the adoption of improved maize production technologies by male farmers; however, this variable did not influence adoption by female farmers. The study concludes that this might be due to the multiple roles of women, which limited their participation in farmer groups. Confidence in extension officers competence and skills influenced the adoption of improved maize production technologies by female farmers. The study reached the same conclusion regarding the variable access to ICT that influenced adoption by female farmers. This finding could imply that female farmers received information on these technologies from ICT platforms and extension services since they did not participate much in the farmer groups. The study recommends farmers join and form farmer-based organisations since the government and donors work better with organised farmers. The study recommends enhancement of access to information for farmers through extension services that create and produce relevant programmes available through the radio, television, and mobile phone platforms. The public and private extension systems should employ more field extension staff who will train farmers to improve their skills and production techniques. Extension workers must benefit from capacity building to improve their competencies in supporting farmers in interventions aimed at improving the adoption of improved maize production technologies by both male and female farmers in the study area.