Female plot managers in Sub-Saharan Africa often realize significantly
lower crop yields than their male counterparts. Even for
legumes, which are often referred to as ‘women’s crops’, yields
are significantly lower. This study investigated the underlying
causes of this gender yield gap in groundnut production. The
analysis is based on survey data from 228 farm households from
two groundnut growing regions in Uganda. We used the Blinder-
Oaxaca model to decompose factors that contribute to this yield
gap. Results show 63% and 44% gender yield gaps for improved
and local varieties, respectively, with female plot managers realizing
less than their male counterparts. Improved groundnut seeds
increase female plot manager’s yields but not the yields of male
plot managers. Male advantage and female disadvantage combined
account for more than 70% of the yield gap in both
improved and local groundnut variety production and exceed
pure productivity differences. Labor use differences between
female and male plot managers and variety types explain the
observed yield gap. Interventions and policies that increase women’s
access to productive inputs including improved seed will
significantly contribute to closing the yield gap, and thereby
increase crop production, food security, as well as women’s
incomes.