Research Article
Women’s Agricultural Empowerment as a Catalyst for Sustainable Land Use Management Among Small-scale Farmers in Njoro, Kenya
Hafsa Ahmed Mohamed,
Elizabeth Mumbi Ndunda,
Mark Ndunda Mutinda*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
143-156
Received:
5 September 2026
Accepted:
15 September 2026
Published:
14 October 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.11
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Abstract: This study examined the extent of women’s empowerment in agriculture as a catalyst for sustainable land use management practices among small-scale farmers in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to: (i) assess the level of women’s empowerment using the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI); (ii) determine the extent to which women farmers have adopted sustainable land use management practices (SLUMP); and (iii) evaluate the influence of women’s empowerment on the uptake of these practices. An ex-post facto research design was employed. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to identify three locations, from which a stratified random sample of 243 women farmers was drawn from a sampling frame of 659 households. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that women’s empowerment in agriculture was generally low (M = .439, SD = .196) on a 0–1 scale. Adoption of sustainable land use management practices was moderate (M = 11.16, SD = 5.98) on a scale ranging from 0 to 20, with significant variation across Njoro, Kihingo, and Nessuit locations (p < .001). Regression analysis revealed that women’s empowerment had a significant positive contribution to sustainable land use management practices (β = .144, t = 2.25, p < .001). The results demonstrate that the WEAI is an effective tool for assessing the empowerment of women farmers and for understanding its role in promoting sustainable land use decisions.
Abstract: This study examined the extent of women’s empowerment in agriculture as a catalyst for sustainable land use management practices among small-scale farmers in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to: (i) assess the level of women’s empowerment using the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI); (ii) determine t...
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