European Scientific Journal August 2019 edition Vol.15, No.22 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 31 Gender Patterns in Labor Allocation to Avocado Production: Evidence from Kenya Edna G. Johnny, Jane Kabubo-Mariara, Richard Mulwa, George M. Ruigu, University of Nairobi, Kenya Doi:10.19044/esj.2019.v15n22p31 URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2019.v15n22p31 Abstract Farmers face gender differentiated unique social and economic circumstances which may in part determine their time allocation behavior. Using primary survey data from Murang’a County, Kenya, this study employs the double hurdle and Tobit models to investigate gendered patterns of labor allocation in avocado production under contract and non-contract scenarios, non-farm activities as well as the intensity of time use. Results show that while avocado commercialization through contract farming has to some extent altered traditional gender roles in farming, there is still limited participation of women in avocado marketing under contract farming. Hence, interventions aimed at enhancing smallholder avocado production should incorporate mechanisms that will enable women participate at all levels of the avocado value chain. Keywords: Gender patterns, Labor, Avocado, Double hurdle Introduction Agriculture is a key sector in Kenya’s economy, contributing 32.6 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It also contributes about 27 per cent indirectly through the manufacturing and other service-related sectors (KIPPRA, 2017). Agricultural activities are dominated by smallholder farmers most of whom produce on farms averaging 0.2-3 hectares (Republic of Kenya, 2010). Production critically depends on intra-household division of labor in which gender is the fulcrum around which these divisions occurs. Women play a significant role in commercial as well as subsistence food production, contributing about 60 to 80 percent of labor in households and in agricultural production (Republic of Kenya, 2010). Women farmers are however faced with multiple constraints that limit their productivity. According to the