Women’s decision-making power and its impact on input use and economic returns: evidence from Sri Lanka’s tea sector

Purpose This study aims to examine how women’s decision-making power affects input use and economic returns in Sri Lanka’s smallholder tea sector. Design/methodology/approach This study constructs a multidimensional empowerment index using household survey data from 678 tea-producing households and applies the conditional mixed process model to address endogeneity. Robustness is verified through propensity score matching, and heterogeneity analysis is conducted by farm size. Findings Results show that higher women’s decision-making power significantly increases fertilizer and pesticide expenditures. The heterogeneity analysis reveals that these input effects are more evident among small tea farms. Women’s decision-making power increases are also associated with higher tea yield and revenue, confirming a positive impact on economic returns. These outcomes are particularly evident on large farms. Practical implications Promoting sustainable input management through training on integrated pest and nutrient management can balance productivity and environmental outcomes. Improving women’s access to credit, assets and technical knowledge is crucial for converting participation into perceptible income gains. Differentiated support by farm size can enhance policy effectiveness. Originality/value This study develops a context-specific multidimensional empowerment index that captures all women’s roles in household decision-making. It also examines input use and economic returns jointly, which provides a more integrated understanding of empowerment outcomes.