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“Rural youth are leaving agriculture in droves.” “Women perform the bulk of farm work.” “Few farmers use fertilizers and other modern inputs.”

These statements tend to be widely accepted, but are they actually true? Yes and no, and the answer will continue to change, said experts at Monday’s conference on “Agriculture in Africa: Telling Facts from Myths.”

This blog was originally posted on IFPRI.org. It was written by Kelly Jones and Vivian Hoffmann from IFPRI’s Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division as part of an ongoing series of researcher-authored blog stories highlighting research in progress at IFPRI.

Studies have shown that when women own or control household assets, they can improve the well-being of both themselves and their families.  But in many developing countries, men own and control the majority of assets. Without a fair share of ownership, women have little or no control over such decisions as what crops to plant or how and when to sell produce of livestock. Ownership and control of assets can also impact who is eligible to participate in and benefit from development programs.

This blog is excerpted from a press release as part of the coverage of the 2014 Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKKS) Conference.

Farmers confront a number of risks every day, and this is especially true of farmers in developing countries. Rural livelihoods and welfare can be significantly impacted by everything from drought to household illness. And while many financial instruments exist that can help manage risk, in many developing rural areas, households do not have access to these mechanisms.