Mapping the Value Chain for Farmed Fish and Gender Analysis ... 89the value chain performance of the Kenyan aquaculture industry is not well
understood.
Value chain analysis has been proved to be a useful means to assess
gender performance in different systems (El-Sayed et al., 2015; Macfadyen
et al., 2012; Robin et al., 2009; USAID, 2011; Mamun-Ur-Rashid et al., 2013;
Nasr-Allah et al., 2014; Veliu et al., 2009). In Kenya, like in many developing
nations, women’s labour contribution is often greater than men’s although
there is almost a complete absence of macro-level aquaculture-related gender
disaggregated data (hereafter referred to as, MAGDA). This is symptomatic of
the general lack of attention to gender dimensions in aquaculture despite the
important role women play in the sector (Williams et al. 2012). Lack of
MAGDA in Kenya has led to women being left out in matters of policy and
development.
Previous studies indicated that both men and women play different roles
in fisheries with women dominating the post-harvest sector and men
dominating the production sector (Lwenya and Abila., 2001). However,
changing roles in fisheries have been observed where men have seized the
opportunity to enter into fish trade, which was once a female domain. Studies
conducted by Medard et al. (2002) in Tanzania indicated that in most cases
men are the owners of the ponds while women manage the ponds. In
developing countries such as Kenya, customary beliefs, norms and laws,
and/or unfavorable regulatory structures of the state, reduce women’s access to
fisheries resources and assets (FAO 2006; Porter 2006). In patrilineal
communities, men are the owners of assets such as land hence women are
disadvantaged, confining them to the lower end of the supply chain. Notably,
education has also been a stumbling block for the development of fisher
women around Lake Victoria region. Ikiara (1999) indicated that most fishers
are poorly educated but the issue mostly affects the female and this limits their
roles and opportunity in the sector. Despite all the constraints, many studies
have indicated that women perform many unpaid tasks at pre and post-
harvesting which goes unacknowledged or undercounted as employment
(Williams et al., 2005; FAO, 2006, Choo et al., 2008). It has been reported that
women roles and extent of participation in aquaculture value chain (AVC,
hereafter) seem even higher than in fisheries in Southeast Asia (Williams et
al., 2005; FAO, 2006). However, there has been no documented information
on gender participation along the AVC in Kenya. Understanding gender means
understanding opportunities, constraints and the impacts of change as they
affect both men and women. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to map
the value chain for farmed fish in Kenya, describe the main actors and