International Food Security Dialogue 2014

The contents of the paper were largely derived

from the baseline survey results of the IDRC

funded project on

“Enhanced Preservation of Fruits in South Asia”

 

The financial support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Government of Canada, provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Canada (DFATD) is gratefully

acknowledged.

Thanks to University of Alberta

for hosting the International Food Security

Dialogue 2014

Theme 2

Gender and Livelihoods

Session 1

From Analysis to Action through Household Data

Gender Inequity in Farm Decision Making and Resource Ownership and the Need for Empowering Women to

Achieve Food Security

Dr.C.Sekar Dr.K.S.Subramanian

Dr.Jayashankar SubramanianMr.L.Vijaya Prakash

• A significant and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields

 

• Roles vary considerably between and within regions

• Manage multifaceted household activities and perform various livelihood strategies

Role of Women in Agriculture

Major Activities

Producing crops

Tending animals

Processing farm produce and preparing food

Working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises

Collecting fuel, fodder for animals and water

Marketing farm grown commodities

Caring family and maintaining homes•  

Concern ?

Many of women’s activities are not effusively recognized

Not acknowledged appropriately in spite of the fact that they are most important and essential to the household food security and welfare.

Facts

Comprise almost half of the world’s agricultural

workforce

Not even recognized as farmers

Widespread restrictions on decision making about the

basic resources for production

Rationale of the study

Enhancing the participation of farm women in making decisions would lead to improvements in yield and farm income.

Women understand the dynamics of crop production effectively due to their close association and involvement.

Women’s power could be used to direct household resources towards improving their caring practices and facilitate improvement of the health and nutritional status of household.

Reducing gender inequity and ensuring food security are vital as it relates not only to the present generation but also the future population.  

Objectives

to study the right of ownership of productive farm resources such as land

to assess the role of women in farm related occupations, and

to estimate the extent of female participation in decision making with respect to farm operations which will have far reaching effect on household food security.

Project Area

Western part of Tamil Nadu state,

India, where perennial fruit crops

like mango is predominantly grown.

Map showing the states in India and the project state

Study Area

Study Regions in the state of Tamil Nadu

Methodology

Baseline Survey

i. Krishnagiri

ii. Theni

iii. Kanyakumari

Distribution of sample farmers in Krishnagiri

S. No Name of Block

1 Bargur I

2 Bargur II

3 Kaveripattinam I

4 Kaveripattinam II

5 Mathur II

6 Krishnagiri

Blocks in Krishnagiri District

Distribution of samples in Theni

S. No

Block Number

1. Periyakulam 30

2. Bodi 30

3. Theni 30

4. Andipatti 30

Total 120

Blocks in Theni District

Distribution of sample respondents in Kanyakumari 

S. No

Block VarietySample size(Number)

1, Agastheeswaram Neelum 15

2, Rajakkamangalam Neelum 15

Total 30

Blocks in Kanyakumari district

Major Results of the study

Distribution of farmers in the project area

S. No

Type of farmersTotal

Number Percentage

1, Marginal 148 26.91

2, Small 151 27.45

3, Semi Medium 105 19.09

4, Medium and Large 146 26.55

Total 550 100.00

Distribution of Farmers based on Land Holding

26.91 %

27.45 %

19.09 %

26.55 %

Marginal 

Small

Semi Medium

Medium and Large

Memberships in CBO

S. No

Type of farmersTotal

Number Percentage

1, Marginal 5 3.42

2, Small 19 13.01

3, Semi Medium 24 16.44

4, Medium and Large 98 67.12

Total 146 100.00

Gender Distribution in CBO

S. No Type of farmersWomen – 8.22 Per cent

Number Women

1, Marginal  5 -

2, Small 19 2

3, Semi Medium 24 4

4, Medium and Large 98 6

Total 146 12

Occupational distribution of the head of the household

S. No

Type of farmers Number Percentage

1. Cultivator 501 91.09

2. Cultivator + Agricultural labour

13 2.36

3. Cultivator + Non Agricultural labour

1 0.18

4. Cultivator + Entrepreneur

13 2.36

5. Cultivator + Private Employee

11 2.00

6. Cultivator + Government Employee

11 2.00

Total 550 100.00

Ownership of farm land

S. No Gender Number Percentage

1. Male 371 67.45

2. Female 38 6.91

3. Both 141 25.64

Total 550 100.00

Details about ownership of non - farm assets

S. No

Gender Number Percentage

1. Male 540 98.18

2. Female 7 1.27

3. Both 3 0.55

Total 550 100.00

Farm wages-Gender gap

The gender gap in wages - Not uncommon

Wage difference across gender universally reported.

Female wages as a percentage of male wages are 50-60

per cent.

For eight hours of field operations.Men : Rs.300 -350Women : Rs.150-160

Gender disparity in wages.  

Due to non availability of men labors, some of the farm operations like guiding water, digging pits, harvesting etc. which were previously performed by men are done by women but the wage remains unchanged.

In some farms, the women laborers have been purposively engaged for all farm operations mainly to reduce cost of operations.

•In the study area, it is a common phenomenon that many of the wage earners spent part of their earnings in the liquor shop but the women used to spend their entire wage for the welfare of the household.

Payment of wages on par with men will ensure household food security.

Possession of livestock

• In animal rearing, women have a multiple role - Take care of animals, grazing, fodder collection, cleaning of farm and animal sheds to milking of animals and value addition of livestock products.

• The possession of animals like cow, goat, sheep and hen was highly preferred as it provide additional source of revenue to the farm families and they are the source of indemnity to meet the unforeseen situations.

Livestock and Poultry

Source of income to meet the day to day affairs of the households like purchase of provisions, vegetables, children’s food, educational expenses etc.

Major source of income for women farmers during festivals, and family ceremonies.

Now-a-days, the demand for country (desi) hens and cocks are more, particularly during festive seasons.

•The contribution of money by women during carnivals and unforeseen occasions through animal rearing had been well acknowledged by the men members of the family.

•The animal rearing in fact helps to keep the households’ food security unchanged during the years of crop failures owing to poor monsoon, less fruit setting, severe wind and other unforeseen agro-climatic circumstances

Decision making regarding the maintenance and sale of livestock

S. No Gender Number Percentage

1. Male 90 25.64

2. Female 176 50.14

3. Both 85 24.22

Total 351 100.00

Area under crops 

S. No Crop Area (Ha)

Percentage

1. Annual crop 0.27 4.68

2. Perennial crop 5.50 95.32

Total 5.77 100.00

Area under major perennial crops

S. No

Name of the crop Average area (Ha)

1, Mango 2.33

2, Guava 0.20

3, Banana 0.29

4, Coconut 2.04

5, Sappota 0.04

6, Citrus 0.03

7, Jack 0.03

8, Cashewnut 0.03

9, Others 0.50

Total 5.50

Decision making with respect to choice of crops

S. No Gender Number Percentage

1. Male 379 68.91

2. Female 51 9.27

3. Both 120 21.82

Total 550 100.00

Decision making with respect to choice of crops

MenWomen

Both

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

7068.91 %

9.27 %

21.82%

Decisions towards control of pest and disease

 

S. No Gender

Control of pestsControl of diseases

NumberPercenta

geNumber

Percentage

1. Male 401 72.91 368 66.91

2. Female 58 10.54 56 10.18

3. Both 91 16.55 126 22.91

Total 550 100.00 550 100.00

Involvement of gender in executing post harvest operations

S. No

Name of the activity

GenderTotal

NumberPercentag

e1, Harvesting and

CollectionMale 137 24.91Female 9 1.64Both 404 73.45Total 550 100.00

2, Grading and Sorting

Male 5 9.43Female 40 75.47Both 8 15.10Total 53 100.00

3, Packaging Male 112 20.36Female 306 55.64Both 132 24.00Total 550 100.00

Decisions regarding marketing

S.No.

GenderTotal

Number Percentage

1, Male 334 60.72

2, Female 97 17.64

3, Both 119 21.64

Total 550 100.00

Per Capita Food Expenditure

S. No Food ItemsExpenditure(Rs./Year)

Percentage

1 Cereals 2082 7.95

2 Pulses and pulse substitutes 978 3.74

3 Edible oils 1050 4.01

4 Fruits 1483 5.66

5 Vegetables 1708 6.52

6 Spices & condiments 785 3.00

7 Milk and milk products 1762 6.73

8Beverages, refreshments and processed and semi -processed food products

1793 6.85

9Non-vegetarian foods (chicken, meat, egg fish etc.) 1156 4.42

10 Others (salt, sugar etc.) 577 2.20

Non Food Consumption Expenditure

S. No Non-Food ItemsExpenditure(Rs./Year)

Percentage

1 Clothing 1986 7.59

2 Education 1859 7.10

3 Travel and recreation 1163 4.44

4Medical and health related expenses

1595 6.09

5 Ceremony, festival and function 1684 6.43

6 Fuel and lighting 1908 7.29

7 Purchase of durable goods 1363 5.21

8

Others ( payment of taxes, insurance, consumer services, rent etc.

1248 4.77

Total 26180 100.00

Percentage of Expenditure on Food

Very High - > 75 Vulnerable to Food insecurity

High - 65-75

Medium - 50-65

Low - < 50

Source : Smith and Subandoro (2007) p.82

Decision with respect to Consumption of Food and Non-Food Commodities

Male Female Both0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Food Percentage

Non-food Percentage

Percentage

Gender

INTERVENSIONS

Formation of Mango Producers’ Group

Institutionalizing mango cultivation

Focus group discussion

Training on best post-harvest management technologies to 45 Mango Producers Groups (MPG), comprising 750 mango growers in Tamil Nadu (over 60% represented by women).

Hands on training on “value addition of mangoes” to women MPG

Field Level Seminar on Pre and Post Production Management of Mango

A Section of the Farmers attending the Seminar

Mango Producers’ Group attending the Meeting on Post Harvest Management of Mango

OUTCOMEMeasurable Outcome

Active participation of women in farm decisions such as production, harvesting, grading, and packaging enhanced by 7 per cent.

Adoption of good agricultural and farm management practices increased by 22 per cent.

Household income increased by Rs. 7200 (US$120) per family owning an average area of 1.28 hectares per year due to the adoption of best post-harvest management practices.

Involvement of Women in Farm Level Decision Making

S. No Source Before (%) After (%)

1 Sale of live Stock 50 58

2 Marketing 18 24

3 Packaging 55 66

4 Collection, grading  and sorting 75 79

5 Harvesting 2 6

6 Control of diseases 10 18

7 Control of pest 11 19

8 Choice of crops 9 15

OUTCOME

Post-harvest losses at the field level have come down by 10 per cent (700-900 Kg ha-1) through the adoption of appropriate harvesting and post harvest practices viz., use of suitable harvesting tools, and techniques of fruit collection, cleaning, grading, sorting, packaging and transport.

• Reduction of post-harvest losses has resulted in the greater availability of quality fruits in the market, thereby generating an additional income of Rs. 5600 (US$100) ha-1 year -1.

Focus Group Discussion with MPG

Hands on Training on Value Addition

Capacity Building of MPGs

Hands-on training on value added products, such as mango-based pickles and sweets enhanced household income by 7-10 per cent. This money is being used for education and health expenses as well as buying more nutritious food such as green vegetables.

With the support of this project, women were able to participate more actively in production and post-production management decisions.

“I feel proud that I have convinced my

husband to consider my farm decision

after associating with the Mango Producers

Group formed under IDRC Project”

Mrs.Dhanalakshmi, Mango Producers Group,

Moramadugu Village, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India”

 

Conclusion and Recommendations

The study concluded that the gender inequality in farm related decisions was not uncommon in spite of the fact that women shared majority of activities and contribute largely in enhancing farm income and achieving grass root level food security.

It is a common phenomenon that many of the

male wage earners spent part of their earnings

in the liquor shop but the women used to spend

their entire wage for the welfare of the

household members. At this context, payment

of wages on par with men will enhance

household income and ensure household food

security.

Women are being trained on the importance and their role in participation of farm and home level decision making processes.

• The women members are taught through PRA mode (like focus group discussion, information sharing etc.) to understand the need of empowering themselves to achieve household level food security.

• The issues like poverty and nutritional security could very well be addressed by empowering women with increased access to critical resources like land enhanced participation of women in farm decision making.

• Grass root level food security could be achieved through emancipation of women from the clutches of men neglecting women in farm decision making process and disparity in the access and ownership of farm resources

• Improving women’s productivity in agriculture not only increases food availability for the household but also raises women’s income and enhances food security due to women’s spending patterns.

• The outcome of the study suggested that redressing the gender gap in asset possession and decision making is the key aspect in improving farm productivity and subsequently the employment, income and ultimate household food security.

The formation of Women Empowerment Groups

to improve rights and access to services would

be a well-established means of social and

economic empowerment in which members

would increase productivity and incomes

collectively.

Capacity building is another important area that

is required to ensure that women remain active

members and assume important positions in

leadership and decision making in economic

activities to ensure household level food and

nutritional security.

Discussion

Thanks …