Gendered Decision-Making in Climate-Smart Agriculture Across Two Rural Belizean Communities

Abstract

As climate change increases the vulnerability of smallholder farming systems, understanding gender dynamics in agricultural adaptation is critical. This mixed-methods comparative case study examined farm decision-making and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption among 30 women in Indian Church Village and Duck Run 2, Belize. Descriptive results showed substantial differences in institutional access, including farm-credit access reported by 46.7% of participants in Indian Church Village and none in Duck Run 2. Women in Duck Run 2 reported higher mean scores for both participation in agricultural decisions and CSA adoption, but the between-community differences were not statistically significant in this small sample. Interview accounts identified insecure land tenure, limited credit and extension access, household care responsibilities, and family support as important influences on women’s capacity to adopt new practices. The findings suggest that gender-responsive CSA initiatives in the two communities should combine technical support with measures addressing access to productive assets, finance, and labor-saving resources.