Swarn Lata Arya, Principal scientist,

Economics Central soil & Water Conservation

Research &Training Institute, Research Centre, Chandigarh, India

Gender refers to the socially constructed Gender refers to the socially constructed

rather than biologically determined roles rather than biologically determined roles

of men and women as well as the of men and women as well as the

relationships between them in a given relationships between them in a given

society at a specific time and place.society at a specific time and place.

International Labour Organization Statistics

But owns:But owns:

Only 10% of the world’s income and

Merely less than 1% in property

Women contributes:Women contributes:

50% in world’s population50% in world’s population

30% in total work force 30% in total work force &&

60% working hours60% working hours

Human involvement is generally Human involvement is generally

concentrated in following four natural concentrated in following four natural

resources.resources.

1.1. LandLand

2.2. WaterWater

3.3. Forest Forest

4.4. Animal & FisheriesAnimal & Fisheries

Off farm activities are main source of income for men Off farm activities are main source of income for men

whereas Women earnings are mainly agriculture and whereas Women earnings are mainly agriculture and

forest dependent.forest dependent.

Gender wise Distribution of Source of Income

13

33

45

28

35

34

59

32

21

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Men

Women

Poor Women

Percent contribution

Forest and Common Land Crop Land Off-farm Income

Studies in U.P. India (Restoring the balance-Women and Forest, FAO and SIDA

Women are dominating in the majority of agricultural related Women are dominating in the majority of agricultural related

activities and contributing 67 percent to the total labour activities and contributing 67 percent to the total labour

force involved in agriculture.force involved in agriculture.

71%

68%

96%

52%

70%

60%

67%

100%

29%

32%

4%

50%

48%

40%

33%

50%

30%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Ploughing

Sowing and Transplanting

Interculture

Weeding

Irrigation

Fertilizer application

Harvesting

Threshing and Winnowing

Overall

Women Men

Arya S.L. Watershed study on Shivalik foothills

As per UN standards, the countries with annual per capita water availability of less than 1700m3 are considered as water stressed and those with less than 1000m3 as water scarce.

38.1%

18%

0

Percent reduction

Scarce

Stressed

Stressed

UN Standard class

770 m32050

1020 m32004

1244 m32000

Per capita Availability/annum

Year

NAAS-2006

79% 7% 14%

Women Men Childrens

83% 17%

Agriculture Non-Agriculture

Major portion of water resource is being utilized by theMajor portion of water resource is being utilized by the

Farming sector.Farming sector.

Women are dominating in domestic water management Women are dominating in domestic water management

Source; NAAS-2006

Source; Ahmad, 2005

• On average, women and children travel 10-15 kms per day for collecting water and carrying up to 20 kilos per trip. This situation will further worsen as water resources is reducing day by day.

• Share of water to agriculture will get reduced by 10-15 percent in the next two decades.

Woman play an important role in the management of

water resources in rural areas throughout the world

•• Forests are a vital component to sustaining the Forests are a vital component to sustaining the

life support system on the earth. life support system on the earth.

•• Forest coverForest cover 20.64% of Total geographical area20.64% of Total geographical area.

•• About 30 percent of fodder requirements are met About 30 percent of fodder requirements are met

from forests.from forests.

•• About 25 percent of the country’s livestock graze About 25 percent of the country’s livestock graze

on forestlands.on forestlands.

•• The forest resources of the country have been The forest resources of the country have been

under mounting pressure owing to increasing under mounting pressure owing to increasing

human and livestock population.human and livestock population.

��• Village Extension Workers

�Negligible• Forest Officials

ManagementManagement

X�• Minor produce

�X• Major produce

HarvestingHarvesting

��• Protection

X�• Weeding and application of inputs

X�• Watering

Maintenance worksMaintenance works

��• Earth works

��• Cleaning and road works

X�• Nursery operations

Development WorksDevelopment Works

ManWomenForestry operations

Women are having dominance in majority of forest development operations but not having appropriate representation in forest management activities

Bajaj, M., 2001, The Impact of Globalisation on the Forestry Sector in India with Special Reference to Women’sEmployment, Paper for National Commission on Labour: Group on Women and Child Labour. New Delhi.

•• Women play key roles in raising animals and in harvesting and Women play key roles in raising animals and in harvesting and

processing livestock products. Although men are often the processing livestock products. Although men are often the

owners (and sellers) of livestock. it is the women who perform owners (and sellers) of livestock. it is the women who perform

most of the household labour devoted to animals. Women are most of the household labour devoted to animals. Women are

leading in Animal husbandry.leading in Animal husbandry.

•• In most fishing communities women predominate in the In most fishing communities women predominate in the

handling, preservation and processing of fish products. During handling, preservation and processing of fish products. During

postpost--harvest activities they assist in unloading boats and nets. harvest activities they assist in unloading boats and nets.

During the processing activities they work at sunDuring the processing activities they work at sun--drying, salting, drying, salting,

smoking and preparing fish paste and cakes.smoking and preparing fish paste and cakes.

97%

48%

100%

95%

96%

87%

3%

52%

5%

4%

16%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Tending cattle in shed

Grazing

FYM in cattle shed

Fodder collection

Milking

Overall

Women Men

Arya & Samra, 2001

�� Ensure that women are equal partners and productive and selfEnsure that women are equal partners and productive and self--reliant reliant

participants.participants.

�� Special emphasis to the women in animal husbandry and dairying Special emphasis to the women in animal husbandry and dairying

training programmes.training programmes.

�� Incorporate gender into the "Guidelines for Land Use Planning”.Incorporate gender into the "Guidelines for Land Use Planning”.

�� Carry out genderCarry out gender--targeted training programmes on the technical and targeted training programmes on the technical and

managerial aspects.managerial aspects.

�� Develop methodologies to increase women's access to the natural Develop methodologies to increase women's access to the natural

resource management.resource management.

�� Equal involvement of both the genders in political power and poEqual involvement of both the genders in political power and policy licy

making activities like Water Users Associationsmaking activities like Water Users Associations

�� Identification of problems associated with natural resource degrIdentification of problems associated with natural resource degradation adation

and concentration of training programmes to solve them.and concentration of training programmes to solve them.