Generation and Gender Differences in Groundnut Productivity in the Senegalese Groundnut Basin

Groundnuts are an important crop in the livelihoods of low-income rural households in central and western Senegal north of The Gambia, so much so that the region is known as “The Groundnut Basin.” Despite the region’s strong historic emphasis on groundnut, production has been stagnant in recent years due to a risky environment arising from inconsistent rainfall and degraded soils. For young adults (ages 16 to 29) and females, groundnuts are the major source of their own income within the household. Thus, there is concern that the increasingly unfavorable production environment will deter young adults and females from investing in groundnut production, thereby decreasing their income-generating opportunities and threatening the viability of the sector for next generation farmers.

This research note examines generational and gender differences in the production of groundnut by smallholder farmers in the Senegal Groundnut Basin. First, we look at how fields that are managed to meet household needs differ in terms of land allocation and distribution of harvest from fields managed by individual household members for their own needs.1 These different management objectives can lead to complex and sometimes conflicting incentives for young or female groundnut farmers. Second, we examine differences in soil fertility management strategies across generations and between genders, and how different strategies may contribute to long-term differences in field productivity. Third, we identify gaps in agricultural input use by generation and gender and, fourth, we examine revenues and profits from groundnut fields managed by individuals. Fifth, we document productivity increases associated with agricultural inputs, as well as remaining productivity gaps for young-adult and female groundnut producers after accounting for input differences and household-specific determinants of productivity. The note concludes by distilling implications for enhancing longterm groundnut productivity of young adults and female farmers in the Groundnut Basin. An accompanying policy brief describes the survey and study data and examines the aspirations, resources, and constraints of young adults involved in groundnut production.