Sujata Tamang, Forest Action NepalDr Krishna P Paudel, Forest Action Nepal

Dr Krishna K. Shrestha, U. of NSW, Australia

Agricultural (in) justices: Feminization of agriculture and its implications to food security in

Nepal

What’s in ?

• Research Context & Aims

• Results:▫ A) Causes of feminization ▫ B) Consequences of feminization▫ C) some key insights

• Conclusions

Context: Feminization of Nepalese agriculture

• Massive male migration for overseas work (4 millions youths)

• Increasing dependence on remittance economy

• Increasing land abandonment and decreasing agriculture production

PROBLEM: • Labour shortage, hence increased

workload on women • Lack of women friendly agriculture

technology

Three research questions

•What are the main causes and consequences of feminization of agriculture?

•How does feminization of agriculture affect food security and local livelihoods?

•What are some insights for improving agricultural policy and practices?

Methods• Two districts of Mid

Hills of Nepal

• Both qualitative and quantitative approaches

- Literature review- Household survey- Focus group discussions

- Key informant interview- Analysis and

interpretation

Causes of feminization …

1. Male dominated society where men are culturally expected to secure household economy

2. Changing livelihoods options – attractive opportunities for employment off-farm and abroad, mainly for male population

3. High costs of inputs in, and low return from, agriculture for men – unattractive agriculture; agriculture has become not so rewarding profession to maintain household economy

Forced out -migration of men

Out migration

Feminization

1993

-199

4

1994

-199

5

1995

-199

6

1996

-199

7

1997

-199

8

1998

-199

9

1999

-200

0

2000

-200

1

2001

-200

2

2002

-200

3

2003

-200

4

2004

-200

5

2005

-200

6

2006

-200

7

2007

-200

8

2008

-200

9

2009

-201

0

2010

-201

1

2011

-201

20

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

400000

450000

No. of migrants

Out-migration & its consequences…

Consequences …▫ Increased workload

Imbalance in agriculture performance

▫ Agriculture land abandonment Decreased production

Agriculture (in) justice &

food insecurity

Some insights …

• Additional workload – added from male member forced out-migration

• Male-oriented agriculture practice – unjust & inappropriate to women

• Increasing trends of agriculture land abandonment

• Low food production for the families and communities.

Agriculture injustice

Food insecurity at family and community level

What can be done?

▫ Deeper analysis of socio-cultural and structural issues of gender role in agriculture – existing understanding inadequate & sometimes mis-leading, unfairly penalizing women groups

▫ Policy and institutions must attend the issue of food security through improved local production system where the role of gender sensitive, less labour intensive technology is highlighted within the changing political economy

▫ Progressive forces to enhance capacity of women to organise as 'collective unit' to enhance enterprenurial activities at the village level with genuine collaboration among market, local government and civil society groups

Thank you