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Agriculturalists Advised on Integrating Gender in Research as NARO-Mak18 Closes
Agriculturalists advised on Integrating Gender in Research for systematic, holistic, transformative and equitable development during the NARO-MAK Scientific Conference
Men and women play key roles in agricultural production, processing and natural resource management. However, youth and women face greater constraints in agricultural production.
In her keynote address during the 2nd NARO–Makerere University (Mak) Joint Scientific Conference on Thursday, 15th November, 2018 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Forough E. Olinga said, redressing the balance is key to increasing productivity and reducing poverty. Ms. Forough E. Olinga is a Gender Mainstreaming and Training Consultant.
She was speaking on Gender Mainstreaming in Research and Development with special focus on Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture where she stressed that the human factor in agricultural Research and Development is as critical as other inputs such as land and water.
Ms. Forough said that research has shown that households do not act as one when making decisions, and that one’s share of resources depends on bargaining power.
“Women control fewer resources than men. Women’s assets and incomes are used to improve the health and food security of their children and therefore improving women’s access to assets can increase agricultural productivity, food security, and children’s nutrition, health, and education”, she said.
She reported that women and most youth are disadvantaged with respect to access and user rights in both customary and statutory land tenure systems, human capital, pervasive misconception and false assumption, inputs and technologies and social capital among others.
“Reducing inequality in human capital, physical capital and inputs between male and female farmers in sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to increase agricultural productivity by up to 20%”, she added.
Ms. Forough advised academicians and researchers to look through a “gender lens” by involving women and youth in agricultural research and development and asking questions relevant to both female and male farmers, noting that boundaries of “farming” go beyond the field edge.
Basic questions for gender integration according to Forough include asking what different roles/stakes women and men have in the activity, how the program might affect them differently, whether both men and women will realistically be able to participate and benefit (in terms of time, assets etc) and the program contribution to gender equity.
She observed that in many societies these inequalities are due to gender differences in the division of labour. These social constructions, she shared, attach themselves to behaviors, expectations, roles, representations, and sometimes to values and beliefs that are specific to either men or women.
She explained that the call for Modernization of Agriculture was a call for a paradigm shift, which necessitates a transformation in the mind-frames of the people, involvement in the social and legal structures that support the agriculture sector and that all people and different categories of people in farming communities are the key stakeholders in development.
“Basing research on sex-disaggregated data is one way researchers can ensure that gender is factored into their study. At each step of the research, men and women should act as informants, collaborators, and evaluators about current practices and experimental technologies”, Forough stated.
She defined Gender as an organizing factor that works around systems within a community e.g. production, consumption and distribution. Furthermore, she referred to Gender Mainstreaming in Research as a Unit of gender analysis which is based on each individual at the household level by age, location and culture. She also defined Gender Analysis is a tool to better understand the realities of the women and men by age and location, whose lives are impacted by planned development.
“Principally it is about understanding culture expressed in the construction of gender identities and inequalities, and what that means in practical terms is also political. Gender analysis goes far beyond counting the number of women and men.
It highlights the differences between and among all categories in terms of their relative distribution of resources, opportunities and constraints”, she said.
Ms. Forough also gave an overview of why and how to pay attention to gender in agriculture, the root causes of present global crises, linkage between social structure and scientific technology and how to integrate sex and gender in agricultural research and development.
Other insights were on the use of Sex-Disaggregated Data (SDD) and Gender-Disaggregated Data (GDD), characteristics of a good data for planning, the role of information in gender-sensitive planning and programming, tools and methods appropriate to SDD and gender perspective and methods for gender analysis among others.
Report compiled by;
Jane Anyango
Principal Communication Officer, CAES
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Today, Monday 18th May 2026, most students will begin their End of Semester Two Examinations, and they have been encouraged to remain confident and calm during the examination season.
Data from the University Counselling and Guidance Centre shows that even the best-prepared students experience anxiety, pressure, fear of failure, sleep difficulties and emotional exhaustion during examinations.
Addressing students during a pre-examination mental health workshop organised by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University on 15th May 2026, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Academic Registrar, reminded students that their mental health is far more important than any grade.
“This workshop comes at the right time. I encourage all students to understand that your worth is not defined by a single examination or grade. Examinations are only one part of your educational journey. What matters equally is your ability to remain healthy, focused, ethical and hopeful throughout the process,” Prof Buyinza, said.
Prof. Buyinza shared practical tips to help students avoid fatigue and excessive stress during this period.
“Prepare a realistic reading timetable and avoid last-minute cramming. Take short breaks while studying to allow your mind to recover and improve concentration. Get adequate sleep and avoid excessive consumption of caffeine and energy drinks,” he noted.
During the session, he also encouraged students to engage in light physical activity, stretching or short walks to refresh their minds and reduce tension.
“Maintain a positive mindset and avoid comparing yourself excessively with others. Stay connected with supportive friends, family members, mentors or counsellors whenever you feel overwhelmed,” Prof. Buyinza advised.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting students not only academically, but also in their mental and psychosocial wellbeing, encouraging learners to seek help from counsellors, lecturers, mentors, peers, family members and available support systems whenever necessary.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Prossy Nakayiki, the Deputy Academic Registrar in charge of Examinations and Transcripts warned students against examination malpractice and urged them to uphold academic integrity.
“Anxiety should never push anyone into examination malpractice, do not enter an examination room with a smart watch, phone or any hidden paper commonly known as bullets. Preparation, honesty, rest and self-belief remain the best approaches to success,” Ms. Nakayiki, said.
She also advised students who had not yet printed their examination cards to do so early, noting that delays at the last minute could cause unnecessary panic and disorganisation.
In her presentation about the reality of examination stress and coping strategies, Connie Evelyn Kharono, a Counselling Psychologist at the Counselling and Guidance Center, called upon students to adopt the 5, 4,3,2,1 Ground technique before an exam or intense study session.
The 5, 4,3,2,1 ground technique, is one of the easiest mindfulness strategies designed for managing stress and anxiety, as it can be done almost anywhere and at any time. You name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell and 1 you can taste.
She advised students to focus on what they can control.
“You can control your study schedule, your sleep and how kindly you speak yourself. You cannot control the exact questions that will be on the paper, so channel your energy only into the preparations you can influence,” Ms Kharono, said.
Ms Kharono encouraged students to maintain a regular sleep schedule and ensure that they are eating balanced meals and staying hydrated.
Ms Christine Nimusiima, a senior Psycho-Social Officer at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, called upon the students to practise positive self-talk and maintain a healthy mindset.
“During this examination season, avoid comparing your revision progress or predicted grades with your peers. Your only competition is who you were yesterday. Take a deep breath, trust in the work you have done and remember that you have the resilience to succeed. Best of luck with your preparations,” Ms. Nimusiima said.
By Dr. Racheal Ddungu Mugabi
The Alliance for African Partnership, Africa Office, today received a delegation from the University of Bergen (UiB)’s Division of Research and Innovation. The visiting team comprised Kristin Svartveit, Vivil Valvik Haraldsen, and Emmanuel Ovon Babatunde.
The delegation was officially introduced by Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Head, Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU), together with Dr. Ronald Semyalo (Makerere University coordinator for UiB)
The visit aimed to strengthen institutional collaboration and promote research excellence through international partnerships. The key objectives of the meeting included:
- UiB team sharing information and experiences on enhancing success in EU grant acquisition and management.
- UiB application support process for Postdoc fellowships at Bergen up to a period of 2 years
- AAP Africa Office providing insights into the AAP consortium programs and activities in order to foster collaboration between the AAP consortium and UiB.
The engagement provided an important platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and exploring opportunities for future collaborative research initiatives between Makerere University, the AAP consortium, and the University of Bergen.
The Author is the Director of the AAP Africa Office
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