Women tend to operate small income- generating ventures, such as eating houses, shops and tailoring units, and are responsible for managing the household, home gardens and small agricultural plots. A few uninhabited islands have been leased by the government for large-scale commercial agriculture. While demand exists for women to work on these farms as paid labour, women usually do not seek long-term work on other islands. In general, they only clear wilderness and collect fuelwood on the commercial agriculture islands.
Coconut is an important commercial crop, but women play no role in coconut harvesting, mainly because of the need to climb palms and undertake long journeys in dhonis (boats). Women engage in coconut processing activities, including dehusking, grating, drying and milling for oil, although demand for coconut oil is decreasing. Manufacturing coir rope is undertaken jointly by women and men. Women also make brooms from the fibrous husk of coconuts.
Fishing activities and the harvesting of marine life in the oceans, lagoons or reef flats are performed exclusively by men. Women perform post-harvest activities and must gather fuelwood three times a week, compared to once a week for normal household needs. Marketing the catch is the responsibility of both women and men.
