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The feminization of agricultureIn many parts of the world today there is an increasing trend towards what has been termed the 'feminization of agriculture'. As men's participation in agriculture declines, the role of women in agricultural production becomes ever more dominant. War, sickness and death from HIV/AIDS have reduced rural male populations. Another major cause of this phenomenon is the migration of men from rural areas to towns and cities, in their own countries or abroad, in search of paid employment.
In Africa, for example, the male population in rural areas is falling rapidly, while the female population remains relatively stable. In Malawi, the rural male population plummeted by 21.8 percent between 1970 and 1990. During the same 20-year period, the rural female population declined by only 5.4 percent. This trend has resulted in an increase in the proportion of households headed by women. Approximately one-third of all rural households in sub-Saharan Africa are now headed by women. Studies have shown that women heads of household tend to be younger and less educated than their male counterparts. They also generally have less land to work and even less capital and extra farm labour to work it with. With a shortage of labour and capital, women heads of household are often forced to make adjustments to cropping patterns and farming systems. These adjustments have resulted in decreases in production and, in some cases, shifts towards less nutritious crops. Not surprisingly, these households often suffer from increased malnutrition and food insecurity. Targeting women farmers yields high returns. In war-torn Sierra Leone, an FAO project targeted women farmers who had been displaced and lost personal effects, farm tools and seeds. Recognizing the very important role played by women in household food production, the project distributed agricultural inputs including hand tools, fertilizer and seeds to 8 865 women, although it is estimated that 18 000 women benefited. In addition, 319 farmers, 158 extension staff and 21 field staff from non-governmental organizations attended workshops, where they learned improved farming techniques. |
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