Gender and inorganic nitrogen: what are the implications of moving towards a more balanced use of nitrogen fertilizer in the tropics?. Issue 2 (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farnworth, Cathy Rozel; Stirling, Clare; B. Sapkota, Tek; Jat, M. L.; Misiko, Michael; Attwood, Simon
• Is Part Of: International journal of agricultural sustainability. Volume 15:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: Inorganic fertilizer -- nitrogen use efficiency -- mitigation -- gender -- low-emissions development -- India -- sub-Saharan Africa; Agriculture -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Agricultural ecology -- Periodicals; 338.14
• DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2017.1295343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5903

Abstract

ABSTRACT: For agriculture to play a role in climate change mitigation strategies to reduce emissions from inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer through a more balanced and efficient use are necessary. Such strategies should align with the overarching principle of sustainable intensification and will need to consider the economic, environmental and social trade-offs of reduced fertilizer-related emissions. However, the gender equity dimensions of such strategies are rarely considered. The case studies cited in this paper, from India, Lake Victoria in East Africa and more broadly from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), show that the negative externalities of imbalanced inorganic N use in high- and low-use scenarios impact more strongly on women and children. We examine, through a literature review of recent work in SSA, the relative jointness of intra-household bargaining processes in low N use scenarios to assess the degree to which they impact upon N use. We suggest that gender-equitable strategies for achieving more balanced use of N will increase the likelihood of attaining macro-level reductions in GHG emissions provided that they secure equity in intra-household decision-making and address food security. Gender-equitable N use efficiency strategies will help to integrate and assure gender and social equity co-benefits at local scales.