Intra-household farm decisions, agricultural risks, and household welfare: Evidence from smallholder farmers in four SSA countries

Abstract

The agricultural sector in many Sub-Saharan African countries is marked by different risk factors. Furthermore, in many farming households, farm decision-making could either be taken by the husband alone or both spouses, most of the time with men making the main farming decisions. Using micro-level household datasets, Smallholder Household Survey, for four countries in sub-Saharan Africa, this study examines the effect of intra-household farm decisions on the likelihood of farmers experiencing agricultural risk on one hand, and the intersection of the drivers of agricultural risks and intra-household farm decisions' impact on smallholder household welfare. The study shows that socioeconomic factors determine the likelihood of farmers experiencing agricultural risk and that in the face of these risks, intra-household farm decisions affect household welfare. The study makes evidence-based recommendations to reduce farmers’ vulnerabilities to agricultural risks and proposes spousal joint decision-making regarding farming activities and smallholder household welfare enhancement.