Role of Women in Agriculture

Development In Pakistan A presentation to the Students of Mphil in

Agriculture and Geography By

Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor Agriculture University Peshawar

Four categories, representing a range of women's responsibility:1. Men are completely responsible for livestock, with no involvement of

women.2. Men are responsible for managing all livestock, and women are

responsible for processing livestock products.3. Women are responsible for managing and processing small stock and

any other animals kept near the homestead, whereas men are responsible for other animals.

4. Women are responsible for managing and herding large stock and other animals and for processing livestock products.

IFAD 1994 report

Women Responsibility

The beginnings of livestock keeping date back some nine to ten thousand years, and there is good reason to believe that women played a key role in the process of domesticating the major livestock species. Before the onset of farming, in the hunter-gatherer stage of human evolution, humans practised an archetypal division of labour: men were hunters, while women gathered plants and fruits. This allotment of tasks was due to the role of women in reproduction and child care, which restricted them to activities that could be conducted in tandem with nursing and taking care of infants.

Women: the first livestock keepers?

The role of livestock for the rural poor is crucial and complex; it goes far beyond just providing marketable products. For the question at hand, it is noteworthy that small-scale livestock keepers generally pursue a diverse range of livelihood activities. Instead of specializing in any one activity, such as dairying or fattening, their livelihood portfolio consists of a number of different activities. Natural resource-based activities are supplemented by wage labour, trade and crafts to provide for the livestock keepers’ various needs and buffer against risks (Waters-Bayer and Bayer, 1992)

Why women need livestock

Total Population 15th May 2015 = 7.135 billion Top six Country population on 15th May 2015

Total Countries (247)

Source )fficial population Clock

World at a Glance updated Population

# Country Population % age of World Population

1 China 1,369,860,000 18.9 %

2 India 1,271,260,000 17.5%

3 United States 321,006,000 4.43 %

4. Indonesia 255,461,700 3.53 %

5. Brazil 204,316,000 2.82 %

6. Pakistan 189,799,000 2.62

Estimated Population on 15th May 2015

Male Female Male % Female %

729185884 3678777133 3615408751 50.4 % 49.6 %

1. 14.2 people per square kilometer - the Earth's total area (including land and water) is 510 072 000 km2.

2. 48.3 people per square kilometer - the Earth's land area. This includes all continental and island land area as well as Antarctica. The area in that case is 150 461 685 km2

3. 53.4 people per square kilometer - sum of land and water areas within international boundaries and coastlines of all the countries in the world. The area in that case is 136 034 505 km2.

4. Sex ratio 1 016 males to 1 000 females as of 2014.

Source World population clock on 15th may 2015

World Male&female Population on 15th May 2015

Est Pakistan Population on 15th May 2015

Male Female Male % Female %

188888512 95978206 92910306 50.8 % 49.2 %

1. Pakistan population density is 235.9 people per square kilometer as of May 2015.

2. The total area of Pakistan is 796 100 km2 according to the United Nations Statistics Division

3. Sex ratio 1.033 (1 033 males per 1 000 females)4. The population of Pakistan will be increased by 8 172 persons daily in 2015.

Source Country Meter on 15th May 2015

Pakistan Demography Male &Female ratio

Women comprise 43 percent of the agricultural labour force, on average, in developing countries; this figure ranges from around 20 percent in Latin America to 50 percent in parts of Africa and Asia, but it exceeds 60 percent in only a few countries (FAO, 2010).

There is a strong correlation between women's economic opportunity and access to affordable, safe food. Women make up over half of agricultural workers and livestock keepers in developing countries, and bear the primary responsibility for their families food security. Yet they face significant gaps in accessing natural resources, knowledge, services and markets, which hinder their productive capacity

Role of Women in Agriculture in World

The women are the backbone of agricultural workforce but worldwide her hard work has mostly been unpaid. She does the most tedious and back‐breaking tasks in agriculture, animal husbandry and homes. As farmers, women in subsistence production ensure the survival of millions of people in all World.

Women in sustenance economies, producing and reproducing wealth in partnership with nature, are experts in their own right with ecological knowledge of nature’s processes.

Women’s livelihood strategies, and their support and means of food security are diverse and complex, from cleaning seed, to cultivating field crops, to livestock rearing, to home gardening, gathering, and forests, woodlands, wastelands etc.

But these alternative modes of knowledge and livelihoods are not recognized by conventional agricultural scientists and development experts, who fail to see the connection of women’s knowledge, work and skills with ensuring community food security, and the creation of wealth.

Women in Agriculture world scanerio  

Women are the backbone of the rural economy, especially in the developing world. Yet they receive only a fraction of the land, credit, inputs (such as improved seeds and fertilizers), agricultural training and information compared to men. 

Empowering and investing in rural women has been shown to significantly increase productivity, reduce hunger and malnutrition and improve rural livelihoods. And not only for women, but for everyone.

Women in Agri in World

Pakistan's principal natural resources are arable land and water. About 25% of Pakistan's total land area is under cultivation and is watered by one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. Pakistan irrigates three times more acres than Russia. Agriculture accounts for about 23% of GDP and employs about 44%of the labor force.  

  Pakistan Agriculture

Pakistan is a country with a great deal of diversity in culture, traditions, habits, attitudes and practices across its various provinces and regions, although there are similarities as well. So when the broad term of “Women in Agriculture” is used, it may not highlight the extensive and diverse women have in other provinces or regions. The role and responsibilities of women change as the geographic area changes, along with changing local customs and traditions. Even the gender roles, food and nutrition practices vary across different areas, ethnic groups as well as ecological zones.

Role of women in agriculture Pakistan

According to Labor Survey of Pakistan (2006‐07), 70% of female labor force are engaged in agriculture and its allied fields and play very tough role like milking, feed and watch of the livestock. Their brittle bodies transplant rice crop in the burning month of May/ July. Likewise, cotton grower’s spray with poisonous pesticides to the crop; as women pick cotton from sunrise to sun set, it develops allergies, their skin festers. They are always besieged by ailments and medico

abnormalities and usually die untreated. The growers are not providing them facilities of hand gloves and umbrella.  

Labor Survey of Pakistan and women role in Agriculture

The province of KPK is situated between 31o 15’ and 36o 57’ North latitude and 69o 5’ and 74o 7’ East longitude. The maximum length of the province between the parallels is 408 miles and the maximum breadth between the meridians is 279 miles (Room, 1991). It lies at the junction of three mountain ranges; Himalaya, Karakorum, and Hindukush. Kashmir and Punjab are located to its east and Afghanistan to its west; Afghanistan also bounds the province on the north, Baluchistan and the Dera Ghazi Khan District of the Punjab lie on its south (Gazetteer, 1991:1). It is separated by a narrow strip Wakhan from Central Asia and China (Government of Pakistan, 1991).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a Glance

KP employs about 50 percent of the labour force in the province and contributes 40 percent of its GDP. The province does not have high milk and meat yielding large ruminants species that affect women’s incomes because they are mainly involved in livestock management. Women’s access and control over productive resources is limited. Lack of skills, limited opportunities in the job market, and social and cultural restrictions limit women’s access to public resources and markets.

Women in Agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

Smallholder farmers, especially women, should be supported in agriculture production through provision of agriculture inputs, technical capacity building and introduction to climate smart agriculture practices. There is a need to hire more lady extension and animal health workers in the government system to improve access to rural women and help them in improving their crop and livestock production. Establishment of school nurseries to introduce knowledge on agriculture and nutrition and women entrepreneurial skill development along with facilitation in access to agriculture markets are other areas that need to be focussed upon. Women farmers also need to be engaged in agro-forestry and developing nurseries.

Women in Agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has a population of about 22 million with 52 percent males and 48 percent females and an area of 74,521 square kilometres. With varied terrain, it connects three gigantic mountain ranges --Himalayas, Karakorum, and Hindu Kush. Though the province is located in the subtropical zone due to Himalayan, Karakorum and Hindu Kush elevation, it has a wide range of physical and climatic conditions from tropical to subtropical. Average annual rainfall ranges from 25 to 58 inches, with heavy snowfall in Chitral and Kaghan Valley

Back ground of KPK

KP consists of 25 districts and can be cologically divided in three main zones. �

The southern zone -- specializing in cereal crops. � The central zone -- fertile lands surrounded by hilly tracks. This region has

suitable environment for cash crops e.g. sugarcane, sugar-beet, tobacco, and seasonal and developed input and output markets. �

The northern zone –Rugged mountainous terrain with inaccessible valleys. This region is capable of producing high value crops and vegetables especially off-season vegetables i.e. mushrooms, saffron, etc.

Back Ground of KPK contd

Wheat, maize and rice are the staple food crops grown in the province. KP produces 5 percent of Pakistan’s wheat, 30 percent of its maize, and 7 percent of its sugarcane and sugar beet. It also produces 78 percent of Pakistan’s total tobacco production.

KPK Agriculture Crops contd

94 percent of farms are now smaller than 12.5 acres, which is a subsistence percent farm area is operated by owners while 27 percent and 15 percent farm area is cultivated by owners-cum-tenants and tenants respectively. Given the diversity of its soil, KP grows over 42 crops including wheat, rice, barley, maize, sugarcane, tobacco, rape seed, mustard, groundnut, pulses, vegetables and fruits.

The major crops occupy nearly 90 percent of the total cropped area and play an important role in sustaining the living of the rural population. Livestock farming is also a dominant occupation of the farming communities with more than 15 million animal heads and about 22 million poultry birds87. However, this occupation is mostly to supplement family nutritional and cash requirement88. Wheat, mai

KPK Agriculture Crops

Women play an important, largely unpaid role, in generating family income mainly from within the boundaries of their households. Therefore their role is frequently documented in husking and preserving agriculture produce in addition to caring and rearing of domesticated livestock. Commercial agriculture is a male dominated activity when it comes to Khyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince. Men own and trade large animals and are also responsible for cutting, hauling and selling forest timber

Women Role In Agriculture in KPK

Women’s access and control over productive resources is limited. Lack of skills, limited opportunities in the job market, and social and cultural restrictions limit women’s access to public resources and markets. Land fragmentation, gender segregation, non-availability of quality agriculture inputs, lack of irrigation water and transport facilities further augment these challenges. These issues keep the crop yields far below the achievable potential. Numerous market failures and natural disasters have further added to the problems of the farmers.

Women Role In Agriculture in KPK contd

There is a need to strengthen existing extension infrastructure to introduce new technologies. KP has vast grazing lands and has the capacity to produce a variety of animal feed. It is observed that they work for about 12 to 15 hours on average in a day. Half of this is dedicated for household chores and the other half is spent in activities related to agricultural activities mainly livestock rearing.

Women Role In Agriculture in KPK contd

# Problem Solution

1 Lack of access to Market Effective measures are needed to encourage the participation of women in accessing markets for their crop/livestock outputs.

2 Lack of Agri Research and Extension Services

Agriculture Research and Extension services need to be strengthened and made more equitable to improve the capacity of women farmers in agriculture production and technologies.

3 Lack of training to women

Women should be trained in food processing and preservation of various fruits, vegetables and livestock products.

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK

# Problem Solution

4 Less empowered women The empowerment of women in agriculture should be planned with adequate resource allocation for mobilizing women, improving their capacity in technical, organizational and commercial business/micro-enterprises) sectors and creating support systems accessible by women (credit and markets).

5 Lack of chances for women induction in agriculture

Reforms should be made in the government that promotes induction of women

6 Lack of Access to Livesttock services

Rural women should be facilitated in establishing livestock enterprises.

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK

# Problem Solution

7 Lack of access to financial sources

Steps to easy access foor finances

8 The women farmers are unaware of the modern impliments available and their use and efficiency in improving agriculture yield and output earnings

Awareness to be created

9 Lack to property right This needs to be addressed through legal reforms and women should be given land ownership rights

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK contd

# Problem Solution

10 Nutrition is not imperative Prevailing nutrition situation is a serious issue and women need to be made aware of how to improve their and their children’s nutrition.

11 A major constraint to women development in KP has been their absence from the policy framework.

Policy to be initiated

12 Lack obf budget for development activities

More development budget shall be allocated for research and extension, pricing policies, market development, water management, and management of forest resources and rangelands

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK contd

# Problem Solution

13 Lack of Access to Agriculture inputs

Smallholder farmers especially women should be supported in agriculture production through provision of agriculture inputs, technical capacity building and introduction of climate smart agriculture practices.

14 Lack of capacity Training of women in areas of their interests such as seed cleaning and preservation, post harvest management of horticultural crops and animal care are strongly recommended

15 Lack of women in Agriculture and Livestock

Introducing more lady extension workers who will be able to access rural women and help them improve their crop and livestock production

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK contd

# Problem Solution

16 Lack of access of women to enterpeneurship

Women entrepreneurial skill development should be given priority especially in agriculture based microenterprises for potential women farmers.

17 Lack of access of women to Market

Women access to markets should be improved to help them increase their household income from selling their agriculture and livestock produce.

18 Women role in agroforestry is minimized

Women farmers need to be engaged in agro-forestry.

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK

Delivery to stores and local markets is part of agricultural marketing.Image 1 of 3

# Problem Solution

19 Lack of specific institution in province

Women specific institutios to be established inorder to improve their technical knowledge in agriculture production and management.

20 Less powered women Women should be made aware and empowered on how to get a better price of their agriculture, livestock, poultry, forestry, embroidery and other handmade products

21 Lack of security Government should develop and implement a regulatory framework that provides safety and security to women farmers.

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK

# Problem Solution

22 Lack of justice to women Government should eliminate gender inequality and injustice by providing social, economic, and legal rights to women and ensure implementation of such laws

23 Lack of awareness Measures should be introduced to minimize occupational hazards in agricultureon men and women including the effects of spraying pesticides and applying fertilizers. More over organic agriculture practices should be prompted.

24 Lack of Access to Sercvices Women are not allowed to access agricultural and livestock extension services. Only men contact these departments but they are not fully involved

25 Women entrepreneurship Policy reforms should be introduced to encourage creation of small rural agro-based industries that can help diversify the use of agricultural resources and generate employment for rural women.

Problems Faced by Women Farmers in KPK

Pakistani Rural Women

Pakistan,with a population of 160.9 million in mid 2008 is the 6thmost populous countryin the world. Pakistan's population is comprised of 47.5% women and 52.5% men. Thepopulation growth rate remains as high as 2.1% per annum. According to the 1998census, 67%of the population live in rural area

SITUATION OF RURAL WOMEN IN P AKISTAN

Women are rising to the challenges of food insecurity and the food crisis. They are intensifying creative and empowering efforts and actions. These initiatives, small though many of them may be, are not only helping women and their families to survive and cope with the food crisis. They are part of a growing movement and consciousness in which women and communities are not waiting for top down solutions, but coming up with their own

Empowering and Creative Solutions

1. The democratisation of the access to resources, especially land, water, seeds and intellectual property.

2. Promotion of sustainable agriculture and community-based resource management.

3. Establishment of local, people-based trade systems and infrastructure.

4. Empowerment of women through equal representation in decision-making bodies at local, regional, national and global levels.

5. Access to education for women and girls. 6. Access to credit and other financial support for women. 7. Appropriate education, health, recreation, child care and other

infrastructure support systems designed by and for rural communities with consideration for all genders.

Steps For Women in Development