A Gendered Analysis of the Effect of Peanut Value Addition on Household Income in Rongo and Ndhiwa Districts of Kenya

摘要: Agriculture constitutes a significant amount of the Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, major characteristic Kenyan agriculture is predominance primary production with high concentration women in sector. Peanut production for instance is widespread western Kenya under rural crop system; serving as cover, subsistence and commercial crop. As crop, peanut has potential generating income households thus help reducing poverty improving livelihoods. Moreover, higher incomes can be obtained through value addition activities. Despite known benefits from addition, farmers produce market peanuts little or no processing. Using survey data 310 randomly selected producers two divisions; Ndhiwa Rongo; Propensity Score Method (PSM) was used to determine the gendered effect on household income. From results, were found undertake only one form shelling. Although they appreciated profitability associated other forms like processing, inadequate capital purchase processing equipment constraint. The PSM results suggest that raises per capita by Kshs.88 day. Male headed recorded levels compared female headed households. This indicates exists possibility raise farmers’ household incomes. However, diversity adding options should promoted adoption sustainably improve livelihoods.