By Andrew Masinde
Women account for the biggest potential for improving livelihood at household levels when engaged in vegetable production.
They create an easy way to nutritionally secure, economically viable and environmentally sustainable future for all.
Despite this potential, they are faced with the challenge of access to information, the right to own land to carry out farming, and access to technology and quality inputs among others.
Denis Ducan, an agronomist with East West Seed says that when women are encouraged to participate in vegetable production, they can do a better job.
He revealed that they provide majority of labour input in planting, hoeing and harvesting activities.
Adding that, they do this to supplement food and household income, however, their production is small because they are not properly prepared.
“They can do a good job if they are equipped with agricultural services such as proper training, suitable technology package and linked to licensed agro-input dealers for quality and affordable inputs,” he said.
Ducan adds that they should be provided with proper training near their homeland/ within their community as naturally their movements are restricted by their seniors.