INSTITUTIONAL AND HOUSEHOLD FACTORS IN PROMOTING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN AQUACULTURE VALUE CHAIN IN UGANDA

Aquaculture in Uganda dates from the early 1950s having been introduced by the colonial government as a means to promote access to fish by rural poor communities. The target groups were households with low fish consumption due to limited access to lakes and rivers, the main sources of fish. Due to patriarchal system that determine household headship in Uganda,interventions particularly those requiring use of household land tend to focus on men as owners of land and therefore often obscure the role of women along the aquaculture value chain. Women's participation in aquaculture is limited to provision of farm labour but play important decision-making over fish consumption by household members. Following a number of successful experiments using various fish species, technologies for rearing fish in earthen ponds were popularised among target households who had access to water sources.

The study is informed by the 'efficiency approach' of Women in Development thinking and focused on analysing the contribution of women through active involvement in aquaculture to realise financial independence and poverty alleviation.The paper explores the role of women in aquaculture value chain in Uganda from institutional and household standpoint in relation to women's decisions and participation in pond fish farming. In addition, the paper examines women's understanding and perceptions of fish as a dietary asset for household members and determinants of fish diet in households. Opportunities to improve women's benefits in aquaculture are also explored focusing on access to training, extension servicesand strategies to promote women cooperatives.

Information was obtained through in-depth interviews with women involved in different aspects of aquaculture including policy planning level, training, production, marketing and fish provisioning at household level. Preliminary results show that despite women's under-representation in aquaculture related work, they play an important role that is currently not optimally recognised to maximise their full potentialto increase the benefits of aquaculture. The study also observed that the achievement of food (fish) level security at household level lies with women given their decision making and influencing role over the kind of diet for household members.

Efforts to increase fish production require engaging women to organise themselves from aquaculture planning stage through production and marketing.Policy support to existing women's initiatives in aquaculture is recommended.