Improving gender equity in Malawi’s input subsidies

Despite making up more than 70% of the agricultural labour force and being central to putting food on the table, women in Malawi remain marginalised from income-generating activities. In 2005 the government introduced farm input subsidies to increase smallholder productivity and improve food security. A team of local researchers found that the subsidies do increase the incomes of farming households but women within those households lose decision-making power to the men. Improving subsidy targeting to those who cultivate the land could help address gender inequalities.
Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications: