Person:
Muindi, P.

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Muindi
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Muindi, P.
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    Can I speak to the manager? The gender dynamics of decision-making in Kenyan maize plots
    (Springer Netherlands, 2024) Voss, R.C.; Gitonga, Z.; Donovan, J.; Garcia-Medina, M.; Muindi, P.
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    Gender Dynamics in the Retailing Behavior of Agro-dealers and the Purchasing Behavior of Farmers in Kenya: A summary brief
    (CIMMYT, 2020) Muindi, P.; Adam, R.
    Agro-dealers in Kenya play an integral role in the formal distribution of improved maize seed to men and women farmers. In Kenya, maize seed is the most important crop input stocked in agro-dealerships and is widely purchased (Bayesian Consulting Group Limited, 2016). Assessing and understanding the factors that influence agro-dealers in deciding to stock new maize seed varieties, and the factors influencing farmers who purchase maize seed, has the potential to accelerate the adoption of improved maize seed by farmers
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    Gender Dynamics in Seed Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and Worldwide Lessons Workshop: report of proceedings of the Multi-stakeholder Technical Workshop
    (CIMMYT, 2019) Adam, R.; Muindi, P.
    Seed is life. Seed systems are complex and multilayered, involving diverse interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral actors in multiple fronts, from seed conservation to multiplication; improved breeding; regulatory sanitary and phytosanitary measures (for safety and quality assurance); and distribution and sale. Seed systems are also highly dynamic, constantly forming and reforming. The gender challenge then is to first clearly understand how these dynamics affect women, youth, men and other marginalized groups, and then to ensure that these shifting dynamics and end-results do not however widen the gaps, especially by gender. Thus, the Gender Dynamics in Seed Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and Worldwide Lessons Workshop was convened on 2nd December 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya, to examine this challenge, and how to address it. Main objectives were to share research findings on gender and seed-systems research, to discuss lessons learned by researchers and development practitioners operating in the nexus of gender and seed systems, to identify knowledge gaps and to exchange ideas on promising – and implementable – interventions and approaches that expand opportunities for women in the seed sector. From the workshop deliberations, it emerged that funders such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID have invested heavily in breeding improved crops that are tailored to agro-ecological zones primarily targeting farmers who continue to use and recycle unimproved seeds. Nevertheless, much more remains to be done in gender responsiveness to more precisely address distinct variety preferences by women and men farmers. This calls for more research funding to enable gender and social scientists to work with breeders, food technologists, nutritionists and marketers in an integrated manner, right from breeding to product development and market studies. Moreover, although notable progress has been made in parts of Africa on women’s participation and involvement in agri-business and crop science, much more needs to be done to increase the numbers of women and to substantively deepen their involvement in the seed sector. Interventions to support women in the seed-sector business and/or science should be broad and far-reaching, focusing on the entire seed value chain. There is an urgent need to provide facilitative information and support to smallholders – particularly women and youth – and to assist womenowned micro-enterprises to access opportunities in existing affirmative-action policies and programs. For instance, the Kenya government is implementing an affirmative-action policy to preferentially award 30% of tenders in each government ministry to businesses owned by women, youth and persons with disabilities. This policy was supposed to empower women across all categories, but thus far, smallholder women farmers and women-owned micro-enterprises have not taken full advantage of this opportunity, as they are unaware of this policy. Besides the barriers to actively engage in the seed business sector, women also face numerous barriers in adopting improved seeds. One solution is gendertransformative approaches that empower women to take charge of their own destiny in addressing their food-security needs and problems. The youth also face barriers similar to women, meaning young women are up against a double barrier, being both women and youth at the same time. As such, gender-responsive seed value chains must necessarily also be youth-responsive as well, to ensure that this ultra-vulnerable, doubly burdened and potentially very productive critical core group is not left behind. Studies have shown that women play a major role in agriculture in Africa, and the value of catching them while young is inestimable and exponential. Fake seeds persist and seed quality-control standards remain weak. Even then, seed-import policies and regulations are not business-friendly due to the multiple clearances required by and through different government agencies. Main workshop achievements were deepening interdisciplinary links amongst various actors and organizations in a position to influence gender dynamics within the seed systems, identifying the gender research gaps in seed systems, investment and policy priorities, and launching a Gender and Seed Systems Community of Practice for continued post-conference dialogue on this critical topic to enhance and sustain greater food security right at the heart and very foundation of agricultural production – seed systems.
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    Gender-responsive approaches for enhancing the adoption of improved maize seed in Africa: a training manual for plant breeders and technicians
    (CIMMYT, 2019) Adam, R.; Kandiwa, V.; David, S.; Muindi, P.
    This training manual, written for maize breeders and technicians, explains the importance of gender in maize breeding in Africa, and provides practical guidelines on aspects of gender-responsive maize breeding. It does not, however, provide in-depth guidelines on gender-responsive breeding. The manual draws on the research carried out by CIMMYT and partners on gender, plant breeding and seed systems. It can be used by maize breeders and technicians to improve their knowledge, or by trainers as part of a broader training program for plant breeders. The first section defines the concept of gender and why it is important for agriculture and plant breeding. The second section provides guidelines for carrying out participatory varietal selection (PVS), an approach used by many maize breeding programs in Africa, in a gender-responsive manner. Section three discusses ways to ensure that gender concerns are addressed in promoting and distributing improved maize seed. Based on the argument that gender-responsive breeding should be part of an overall effort to promote gender-responsive agricultural research, the final section suggests ways to create a gender-responsive organizational culture in agricultural research organizations.
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    Gender-responsive approaches for enhancing the adoption of improved maize seed in Africa: a training manual for agro-dealers
    (CIMMYT, 2019) Adam, R.; Kandiwa, V.; David, S.; Muindi, P.
    This training manual is intended to help agro-dealers in Africa have a better understanding of the importance of gender for their business. It provides practical suggestions for how agro-dealers can address the needs of both women and men farmers to make their business more profitable. The manual can be used by agro-dealers to improve their knowledge, or by trainers as part of a broader training program for agro-dealers. It is based on workshops organized by CIMMYT in 2017 for agro-dealers in several African countries, and also draws on research carried out by CIMMYT and partners on gender, plant breeding and seed systems. The first section of the manual explains what gender means and why it is important for agriculture and agro-dealers in Africa. Section two suggests ways to develop an agro-dealer business that considers the needs of both women and men, while the third section focuses on how to take gender into consideration in promoting an agro-dealer business.
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    Gender-responsive approaches for enhancing the adoption of improved maize seed in Africa: a training manual for seed companies
    (CIMMYT, 2019) Adam, R.; Kandiwa, V.; David, S.; Muindi, P.
    This manual is intended to help seed companies in Africa have a better understanding of the importance of gender for their business. It provides practical suggestions on how gender can be integrated into various aspects of seed business operations to improve their functions. Although the manual focuses on maize, the concepts, guidelines and suggestions apply to other crops. The first section explains what gender means and why it is important for agriculture and seed businesses in Africa. The second section discusses how gender can be integrated in the multiplication, promotion and distribution of improved maize seed. The third section looks beyond operations to explore why and how seed companies can be gender sensitive in the area of human resources.
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    Gender-responsive budgeting tool for the promotion of improved maize seed in Africa
    (CIMMYT, 2018) Adam, R.; Kandiwa, V.; Muindi, P.
    This tool is a decision-making guide for those seed companies who are seeking to make a wider population of farmers aware of the technologies they produce. The idea is to put your money where your potential market lies. The underlying rationale for this tool is that no single approach is able to reach all men and women farmers effectively. Similarly, while some approaches lend themselves well to reaching a wider population, others tend to be more effective in reaching specific demographic groups. This tool should be used alongside the gender-responsive approaches for the promotion of improved maize seed in Africa guide.
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