Gender, work and vulnerability in African horticulture

Commercial agriculture is expanding in Africa, both for exports to European supermarkets and for emerging African supermarket chains. This is stimulating a shift away from small producers, and drawing an increasing number of workers into paid employment, much of it temporary or sourced through third party contractors. This type of work often involves a high concentration of female labour, but commonly in informal employment without legal rights or benefits. The risks faced by these women are compounded by their family and childcare responsibilities, and leave them vulnerable to poverty Supermarket codes of labour practice are a step forward, but often fail to reach more vulnerable female workers. Fairtrade offers a niche route for improving the commercial position of farmers and workers engaged in African horticulture. International and local advocacy focused on supermarket purchasing practices as a driver of insecure employment needs to be complemented by public policy aimed at addressing the vulnerability of this group of workers to poverty.