Gender Differences in Knowledge and Perceptions of Rice Pests and Diseases Among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda

Women play a significant role in rice production in sub-Saharan Africa, yet their contributions to pest and disease management remain underexplored. This study examined gender differences in knowledge, perceptions, and management of rice pests and diseases in Uganda. A qualitative study was conducted in seven rice-growing districts, involving 249 farmers (122 women and 127 men) through 28 sex-disaggregated focus group discussions (FGDs) and 49 key informant interviews (KIIs). Image-based identification exercises assessed experiential knowledge. Data were transcribed, coded in Atlas.ti, and thematically analyzed using a gender-relations framework. Women performed most labor-intensive and preventive tasks, including seed selection, weeding, field monitoring, harvesting, and post-harvest handling, while men dominated pesticide-related decisions. Despite limited access to extension services and agro-input suppliers, women demonstrated broader experiential knowledge of pests, symptoms, and seasonal occurrence. However, disease diagnostic precision was limited across genders. Synthetic pesticides dominated management practices, with minimal awareness of integrated and biological alternatives. Women also faced indirect pesticide exposure through contaminated clothing and re-entry into treated fields. These findings reveal a gendered gap between experiential knowledge and decision-making power. Gender-responsive extension, improved diagnostic training, and integrated pest management are essential to strengthen plant health, leverage women’s knowledge networks, and address barriers to information, resources, and decision-making.