Quantitative gender analysis country report, Tanzania: Building Equitable Climate Resilient African Bean and Insect Sectors (BRAINS)

Agriculture is crucial to livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and economic growth in Tanzania, where most rural households depend on smallholder, rain-fed agriculture. However, the sector is more subject to climatic variability, including irregular rainfall, protracted dry periods, rising temperatures, and pest and disease threats. These challenges continue to affect agricultural output, economic stability, and household resilience. At the same time, structural inequalities, particularly gender-based disparities in access to productive resources (land, inputs, etc.), extension services, markets, and agro-weather information, which limit the ability of diverse farmer groups to adapt effectively. The Building Equitable Climate-Resilient African Bean and Insect Sectors (BRAINS) project responds to these difficulties by supporting gender-responsive and climate-resilient actions across important agricultural value chains of common beans, fruit trees, and insect for food and feed.
This baseline study presents a gender-disaggregated analysis of production systems, resource access, and market participation across the common bean, fruit tree (avocado), and insect-based sectors in selected regions of Tanzania. The findings expose persistent gender disparities in access to productive resources and decision-making. Men often own and cultivate greater land areas and produce better output levels, particularly in common beans and avocados, showing superior control over critical assets. In contrast, women manage smaller plots and depend more on informal institutions such as social networks for seed access and savings groups for financial backing. Despite these constraints, women play a key role in farm production systems and are strongly engaged in farmer groups and local markets.
In the common bean value chain, production is mostly controlled by native varieties, with minimal adoption of improved varieties. Farmers’ decisions are generally influenced by local market demand and household consumption needs, while input utilization and adoption of climate-resilient practices remain low. Market participation is predominantly through informal channels, with local traders serving as the principal buyers. Gender disparities persist, with men engaged more in large-scale marketing and income control, while women are more active in local markets, domestic and intra-household-level decision making. Avocado production is an emerging high-value enterprise, in Tanzania and East Africa, with widespread adoption of improved varieties such as Hass. However, gains are unevenly dispersed, as men dominate land allocation, production levels, and access to more profitable markets, particularly exporters. Women participate at lower scales and are more concentrated in informal market channels, however they demonstrate stronger engagement in intercropping and diversified production practices that enhance household resilience.
The report also reveals low awareness and uptake of insect-based firms, despite their promise of sustainable food and feed systems. Traditional practices, such as the use of termites, are more common than improved innovations like black soldier fly production. Similarly, access to agro-weather information services is average but unequal, with gender gaps in access, awareness, and effective utilization. While radio and television are the main dissemination media, extension and digital platforms remain underdeveloped. Nonetheless, farmers usually consider agro-weather and climate information as useful and relevant. The findings reveal that smallholder farmers face interrelated issues related to climatic hazards, restricted access to services, insufficient market linkages, and gender inequities. Addressing these constraints needs targeted investments in climate-smart agriculture technologies, inclusive extension and agro-weather services, market development, and financial inclusion. Promoting gender-transformative approaches will be vital to improving equitable participation, strengthening resilience, and enhancing sustainable livelihoods within Tanzania’s agricultural systems.