Gendering post-harvest loss research: responsibilities of women and men to manage maize after harvest in southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract Post-harvest losses are a significant problem worldwide, leading to waste of resources when they becoming scarcer. Rather than putting more energy into increasing production volume, addressing post-harvest can increase food availability without yields. Using maize in Ethiopia introduce gendering loss research, we analyze the gendered division labor management and then discuss implications. The study was conducted from 2014–2015 southwestern as part broader research project 2013–2018. Semi-structured interviews were with 208 male female farmer heads household. Our results show that although activities deemed be responsibility women, overall after harvest requires cooperation all household members. For example, both women men contribute time-sensitive harvest, packing de-husking activities. Men tend have for ensuring is stored well. Critically, sell small quantities pay everyday expenses including purchasing other foods diversify diets. Often recommendations literature reduce include building processing centers formalizing supply chain. However, shown this women’s role decide which consume home important access quality food. Without it possible gender harms enacted livelihoods impacted process reducing losses, may compromise security.