Determinants of empowerment among Women Producers of improved chickens in Bariadi and Muheza Districts, Tanzania

Women empowerment is a dynamic and multidimensional process whereby various factors could influence differently the extent to which women are empowered in different contexts. Rigorous evidence on the determinants of women empowerment in specific agricultural projects is scantily documented. Therefore, the paper examines the determinants of women empowerment in keeping improved chickens in Bariadi and Muheza Districts. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. A sample size of 240 women was involved, including 120 beneficiaries of African Chicken Genetic Gain (ACGG) and 120 non-beneficiaries. Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. A Composite Empowerment Index (CEI) was used to gauge women empowerment. Women engaged in the ACGG project were categorized into higher level of empowerment than were non-beneficiaries (CEI = 0.714 and 0.529 respectively). Ordinal logistic regression results showed that age, religion, forms of marriage and involvement in ACGG project were the main predictors for women empowerment (p < 0.05). The findings showed that the ACGG project provided the enabling environment for increasing women’s agency through supporting women’s access to productive resources and women control over the benefits. In addition, ACGG project through Community Innovation Platforms (CIPs) provided opportunities for stakeholders networking, not only along chicken value chain, but also along other value chain among stakeholders responsible for gender integration and community development at large. The study recommends for development stakeholders such as Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and private sectors to scale up improved chicken intervention to other areas. These entities should also engage in the provision of capacity building on how to empower women along the chicken value chain at the district level.