The article highlights the importance of gender dynamics at every link in the market chain, particularly for perishable products like sweetpotatoes and bananas. Through a gender-responsive Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA) in Uganda, the study identified how men and women contribute differently to market chains, revealing disparities in access to resources, market information, and control over income. Initiatives such as low-cost seed multiplication provided opportunities for women’s empowerment and economic independence, while challenges like market demands and water shortages were addressed through local innovations.