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Farmers and technology
Women farmers throughout the developing world undertake a wide range of laborious tasks in the field and at home. But action is needed to lessen women's workload, reduce stress and enhance their contribution to household food security. Women badly need labour-saving technologies to be developed in food-processing and storage as well as food production and related matters such as water, sanitation, fuel and food preparation. But all too often women's voices are ignored when research priorities are set, and their needs are not addressed. A recent gender-based study of the use of hand implements by farmers in Africa revealed a telling situation. "It is weeding that almost kills the women" said one male farmer, pointing out the need for lighter tools. Another added: "We buy the hoes and tools, and when they get worn, we pass them to the women." The situation was summed up by a member of a women's group in the country who said, "Our men never know or learn of our needs". But technology does not always benefit women. All too often, technology developed in response to the needs of commercial farmers - who are mostly men - actually works to the disadvantage of those who are already disadvantaged - especially women from poor or landless families. Tools that relieve women of unpaid drudgery are unlikely to prove as profitable as tools that replace their paid labour cultivating or processing crops for wealthier farmers. In Bangladesh, milling rice with a foot-operated mortar and pestle had traditionally provided the only source of income for many poor, landless women, particularly widows and divorcees. The introduction of mechanical hullers reduced the labour input from 270 hours per tonne to five. The introduction of 700 new mills will free 100 000 to 140 000 women for other fruitful work. |
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