Mobile Phones, Empowerment and Female Headed Households -Trincomalle district , Sri Lanka
ASSESSING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AMONG RICEFARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN BANGLADESH, EASTERN INDIA,AND NEPAL
1
M. L. Malabayabas 1 , T. Paris 2 , D.Gauchan 3 , and M. Bool-Emerick 4 ASSESSING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AMONG RICE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN BANGLADESH, EASTERN INDIA, AND NEPAL 1 Assistant scientist ([email protected]); 2 Senior scientist II - gender specialist ([email protected]); 3 former postdoctoral fellow; and 4 former associate scientist, Social Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines Rice is one of the major crops grown in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. Most of these areas are rainfed and prone to abiotic stresses such as drought, flood, and salinity. Farms are typically small and are entirely dependent on family members, especially the women, to meet their labor requirements for crop and livestock production. However, abiotic stresses lead to low yields, food insecurity, and debts, forcing other members, particularly the male members to migrate and earn nonfarm income. Many studies have examined the effect of environmental stresses on crop productivity. However, very few studies have looked into the relationship between women’s labor participation and empowerment in key farm-household and family-related decisions-making. This study aims to assess women’s empowerment in making farm-related and family-welfare decisions among rice farming households in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. • A household survey was conducted among 1,908 households in 19 stress-prone sites over 60 villages of Bangladesh, eastern India (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and West Bengal), and Nepal during crop year 2008-09. • The Women Empowerment Index (WEI) was computed using16 gender-related indicators (Hossain et al, 2004 and Paris et al, 2008). RESULTS METHODOLOGY • Agriculture, particularly rice farming was the primary occupation. Of the total labor inputs in rice production per hectare, women in Nepal have the highest contribution (54%), followed by eastern India (29%) and Bangladesh (19%).Due to social norms, women’s agricultural work was restricted within their homesteads. • However, in Nepal and eastern India the share of rice to total household income was lower than non-farm income (Fig. 1). 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Bangladesh Eastern India Nepal Locations Percentage of income Non-farm Farm/off-farm/sale animals Non-rice Rice Fig.1. Different sources of income in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. 0 20 40 60 80 100 Bangladesh Eastern India Nepal Location Percentage of income Male Female Both Fig. 2. Major noncrop income earners in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Bangladesh India Nepal Percentage of income Small-scale Remittance Pension Ot hers Fruits Forestry Fishing Business Salary OBJECTIVE Gender Analysis • Women’s empowerment tended be high in Nepal with an overall WEI of 2.76 (see table below) as compared to Bangladesh and eastern India which suggests that decisions are made jointly by husband and wife. This is due to women’s labor participation and the absence of men due to migration for longer period. • Women in Bangladesh were more empowered than those in eastern India which has an overall WEI of 2.13. This can be attributed to the influence of NGOs that empower poor women in Bangladesh through micro-credit schemes, which also address nutrition, health, education and family planning issues. • Among the three locations, women in eastern India were less empowered which only has an overall WEI of 1.25 which suggests that decisions were made solely by the husbands. Despite of their labor contributions to rice production, there is still high gender disparity in terms of access to and control of assets and resources. Fig. 3. Different sources of male non-farm income in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. 2.63 1.58 2.68 Children’s education 3.18 2.37 3.31 Types of food to consume in times of crises 2.84 2.77 2.78 Allocation of household income 2.75 1.65 2.15 Allocation of farm income 2.13 2.74 2.62 2.40 1.58 2.24 1.68 1.48 1.70 1.81 1.68 1.59 1.64 Bangladesh 2.58 1.33 Adopt a technology in rice production 2.74 1.69 Whether to slaughter or sell animal 2.41 1.19 What farm implement to purchase 2.68 1.19 What price at which to sell the output 2.76 1.25 Overall WEI 2.91 1.27 Number of children to raise 2.74 1.94 Participation in voting/politics 2.45 1.87 Where to borrow (cash or food) 2.67 1.27 When and where to sell the harvested crop 2.92 1.54 Quantity of output to sell and consume 2.88 1.45 Whether to sell/ consume harvested crop 2.95 1.25 Who and how many farm laborers to hire 2.77 1.27 What rice variety (ies) to grow Nepal Eastern India Decision-making Women empowerment index (WEI) in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. CONCLUSIONS Among poor rice farming households, women will continue to play critical roles in supplying farm labor and ensuring food security, particularly during times of stress caused by drought, flood, and salinity. Moreover, with male migration, the women left behind will be compelled to make farm-related and household related decisions. Thus, more efforts should be done by national agricultural research and extension programs to empower women by providing them adequate technical knowledge and skills to enable them to be efficient farmers, and more importantly as better farm managers. Consequently, farming households can better cope with environmental stresses and have greater opportunities to improve their livelihoods. 1 = if decisions are made by the husband; 2= if decisions are made by the husband even if the wife is present; 3 = decisions jointly made by husband and wife; 4 = if decisions are made by the wife even if the husband is present; 5 = if decisions are made by the wife. HYPOTHESIS Women from poor households, particularly in rainfed areas, have high labor participation in rice farming enabling them to be more empowered in making farm-household and family- related decisions. • Men had more opportunities to engage in non-farm jobs than women (Fig. 2). • Remittances from migration to other countries were considered the most important source of non-farm income in Nepal (Fig. 3). REFERENCES Hossain M, Bose ML, Ahmad A. 2004. Nature and impact of women’s participation in economic activities in rural Bangladesh: insights from household surveys. CPD-IRRI Policy Brief 7. Dhaka, Bangladesh:IRRI. Paris T, Singh A, Cueno A, Singh VL. 2008. Assessing the impact of participatory research in rice breeding on women farmers: a case study in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Expl.Agric. 44:97-112.
Transcript of ASSESSING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AMONG RICEFARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN BANGLADESH, EASTERN INDIA,AND NEPAL
M. L. Malabayabas1, T. Paris2, D.Gauchan3, and M. Bool-Emerick4
ASSESSING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AMONG RICE
FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN BANGLADESH, EASTERN INDIA,
AND NEPAL
1Assistant scientist ([email protected]); 2 Senior scientist II - gender specialist ([email protected]); 3 former postdoctoral fellow; and 4 former associate scientist, Social Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines
Rice is one of the major crops grown in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal. Most of these areas are rainfed and prone to abiotic
stresses such as drought, flood, and salinity. Farms are typically small and are entirely dependent on family members, especially the
women, to meet their labor requirements for crop and livestock production. However, abiotic stresses lead to low yields, food insecurity,
and debts, forcing other members, particularly the male members to migrate and earn nonfarm income. Many studies have examined the effect of environmental stresses on crop
productivity. However, very few studies have looked into the relationship between women’s labor participation and empowerment in key farm-household and family-related
decisions-making.
This study aims to assess women’s empowerment in making farm-related and family-welfare decisions among rice farming households in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal.
• A household survey was conducted among 1,908 households in 19 stress-prone sites over
60 villages of Bangladesh, eastern India (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and West Bengal),
and Nepal during crop year 2008-09.
• The Women Empowerment Index (WEI) was computed using16 gender-related indicators
(Hossain et al, 2004 and Paris et al, 2008).
RESULTS
METHODOLOGY
• Agriculture, particularly rice farming was the primary occupation. Of the total labor inputs
in rice production per hectare, women in Nepal have the highest contribution (54%),
followed by eastern India (29%) and Bangladesh (19%).Due to social norms, women’s
agricultural work was restricted within their homesteads.
• However, in Nepal and eastern India the share of rice to total household income was
lower than non-farm income (Fig. 1).
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Bangladesh
Eastern India
Nepal
Locatio
ns
Percentage of income
Non-farm
Farm/off-farm/sale animals
Non-rice
Rice
Fig.1. Different sources of income in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal.
0
20
40
60
80
100
Bangladesh Eastern India Nepal
Location
Percentage of income
Male
Female
Both
Fig. 2. Major noncrop income earners in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Bangladesh
India
Nepal
Percentage of income
Small-scale
Remit tance
Pension
Others
Fruits
Forestry
Fishing
Business
Salary
OBJECTIVE
Gender Analysis
• Women’s empowerment tended be high in Nepal with an overall WEI of 2.76
(see table below) as compared to Bangladesh and eastern India which suggests
that decisions are made jointly by husband and wife. This is due to women’s
labor participation and the absence of men due to migration for longer period.
• Women in Bangladesh were more empowered than those in eastern India which
has an overall WEI of 2.13. This can be attributed to the influence of NGOs that
empower poor women in Bangladesh through micro-credit schemes, which also
address nutrition, health, education and family planning issues.
• Among the three locations, women in eastern India were less empowered which
only has an overall WEI of 1.25 which suggests that decisions were made solely
by the husbands. Despite of their labor contributions to rice production, there is
still high gender disparity in terms of access to and control of assets and
resources.
Fig. 3. Different sources of male non-farm income in Bangladesh, eastern India, and
Nepal.
2.631.582.68Children’s education
3.182.373.31Types of food to consume in times of crises
2.842.772.78Allocation of household income
2.751.652.15Allocation of farm income
2.13
2.74
2.62
2.40
1.58
2.24
1.68
1.48
1.70
1.81
1.68
1.59
1.64
Bangladesh
2.581.33Adopt a technology in rice production
2.741.69Whether to slaughter or sell animal
2.411.19What farm implement to purchase
2.681.19What price at which to sell the output
2.761.25Overall WEI
2.911.27Number of children to raise
2.741.94Participation in voting/politics
2.451.87Where to borrow (cash or food)
2.671.27When and where to sell the harvested crop
2.921.54Quantity of output to sell and consume
2.881.45Whether to sell/ consume harvested crop
2.951.25Who and how many farm laborers to hire
2.771.27What rice variety (ies) to grow
NepalEastern IndiaDecision-making
Women empowerment index (WEI) in Bangladesh, eastern India, and Nepal.
CONCLUSIONS
Among poor rice farming households, women will continue to play critical roles in
supplying farm labor and ensuring food security, particularly during times of stress
caused by drought, flood, and salinity. Moreover, with male migration, the women
left behind will be compelled to make farm-related and household related decisions.
Thus, more efforts should be done by national agricultural research and extension
programs to empower women by providing them adequate technical knowledge and
skills to enable them to be efficient farmers, and more importantly as better farm
managers. Consequently, farming households can better cope with environmental
stresses and have greater opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
1 = if decisions are made by the husband; 2= if decisions are made by the husband even if the wife is present; 3 = decisions
jointly made by husband and wife; 4 = if decisions are made by the wife even if the husband is present; 5 = if decisions are
made by the wife.
HYPOTHESIS
Women from poor households, particularly in rainfed areas, have high labor participation in rice farming enabling them to be more empowered in making farm-household and family-
related decisions.
• Men had more opportunities to engage in non-farm jobs than women (Fig. 2).
• Remittances from migration to other countries were considered the most important
source of non-farm income in Nepal (Fig. 3).
REFERENCES
Hossain M, Bose ML, Ahmad A. 2004. Nature and impact of women’s participation in economic activities in rural
Bangladesh: insights from household surveys. CPD-IRRI Policy Brief 7. Dhaka, Bangladesh:IRRI.
Paris T, Singh A, Cueno A, Singh VL. 2008. Assessing the impact of participatory research in rice breeding on
women farmers: a case study in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Expl.Agric. 44:97-112.
