Data from a survey of 1400 maize growers revealed that more than 40% of the maize farms in Kenya are managed by women. This finding established the crucial role of female farmers in production of maize, the main food staple for all Kenyans. It is therefore important to consider the special needs and circumstances of female farmers in the design and transfer of improved maize technologies. The data showed that, in spite of their poorer access to productive resources and agricultural services, female farmers achieved 90% of the yield levels realized by male growers. While women cultivated smaller plots, had less access to education, credit, extension and mechanical means of cultivation, they adopted improved production methods at rates similar to those of male farmers. This is an indication that women are less risk averse and more prepared than men to accept and use new technologies. In other words, fewer efforts are required with female than with male farmers to achieve similar gains in maize productivity. Therefore, appropriate institutional and policy innovations that would improve the access of female farmers to education, extension, credit and mechanical means of farming are needed if higher levels of productivity and self-sufficiency in maize are to be realized. Of special importance is the design of labor-saving technologies that would reduce the farm work burden on women, particularly in the weeding, harvesting and post-harvest operations which are mainly done by women, in order to release more time and energy for the reproductive and homemaking roles of farming women.

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