Gender sensitive labour saving technology

FloresRojas, M

Gender sensitive labour saving technology

Drum seeder: saving time, effort and money

Year of publication 2018

Place of publication Bangkok, Thailand ;

Pages 2

Author FloresRojas, M

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Asian agriculture is rapidly changing, with a shift from traditional labour intensive operations to labour saving technologies and mechanization at farm level and for post-harvest and processing operations. These changes are underpinned by a number of factors, including rising labour scarcity in rural communities in the region, increasing labour costs, the increasing feminization of agriculture and the development of modern agri-food chains in response to market demands (FAO, 2014). In Sayabouly province in Lao PDR, a labour saving technology called drum seeder has been field tested in support of the Sustainable Intensification of Rice Production (SIRP) by the Laotian Government, smallholder farmers and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). A drum seeder is a manual technology used for drum seeding pre-germinated rice seeds, it is suited to both men and women farmers. This study compares the three planting methods (i.e. drum seeding, manual translating and broadcasting) using data from an initiative in Lao PDR. The results show that drum seeding in the rice production systems appears to be an attractive option compared to the traditional planting methods, namely manual transplanting and broadcasting. Its use saves time and money (labour and seed), reduces workload and drudgery and increases the labour productivity. The use of a drum seeder also contributes towards building resilience against climate change by smallholder farmers as they can cope better with erratic weather, and re-plant their field faster in case of losing their rice crops due to natural disaster. The inclusion of more women in the field demonstrations and training on the use of drum seeder (and other labour saving technology) will help to increase its adoption in rural communities and close the gender gap.

Language English

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Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Gender sensitive labour saving technology
Drum seeder: saving time, effort and money
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Asian agriculture is rapidly changing, with a shift from traditional labour intensive operations to labour saving technologies and mechanization at farm level and for post-harvest and processing operations. These changes are underpinned by a number of factors, including rising labour scarcity in rural communities in the region, increasing labour costs, the increasing feminization of agriculture and the development of modern agri-food chains in response to market demands (FAO, 2014). In Sayabouly province in Lao PDR, a labour saving technology called drum seeder has been field tested in support of the Sustainable Intensification of Rice Production (SIRP) by the Laotian Government, smallholder farmers and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This study compares the three planting methods (i.e. drum seeding, manual translating and broadcasting) using data from an initiative in Lao PDR. The results show that drum seeding in the rice production systems appears to be an attractive option compared to the traditional planting methods, namely manual transplanting and broadcasting. Its use saves time and money (labour and seed), reduces workload and drudgery and increases the labour productivity. The use of a drum seeder also contributes towards building resilience against climate change by smallholder farmers as they can cope better with erratic weather, and re-plant their field faster in case of losing their rice crops due to natural disaster. The inclusion of more women in the field demonstrations and training on the use of drum seeder (and other labour saving technology) will help to increase its adoption in rural communities and close the gender gap. A drum seeder is a manual technology used for drum seeding pre-germinated rice seeds, it is suited to both men and women farmers
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The objective of the questionnaire is to guide the selection and promotion of mechanization that responds to the needs of women farmers for their benefit and empowerment. The information compiled builds interventions that reduce women’s drudgery, increase labour productivity, and create income and business opportunities through the provision of mechanization services in rural communities. This questionnaire allows for the collection of data to perform a gender-responsive needs assessment for mechanization. There are 35 questions divided into five modules:
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land, crop, value chain and division of work;

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access to and constraints in adopting agricultural mechanization; and

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Why do we carry out a gender-responsive needs assessment for mechanization?
Gender dynamics and social norms determine technology access and use.

Even though no role is necessarily exclusively performed by just women or men, the traditional division of labour tends to assign specific responsibilities along value chains to women and others to men.

Women and men have different technology and mechanization needs. These needs do not always determine the choice of machines and equipment.

Women tend to be more affected by the drudgery of manual work (hence work burden and time poverty). At the same time, men often carry out tasks that are supported by technology.

There is a need to identify critical gender gaps and constraints in access to local institutions and organizations that determine technology use and management.

There is a need to identify critical gender gaps and constraints in access to key formal and informal services such as information, repair and maintenance, training, financial and business development services, etc.
Project

Enabling Smallholder Access to Finance in United Republic of Tanzania - TCP/URT/3501 2019

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Rice, the second most important crop in the United Republic of Tanzania, is mostly grown by farmers as a cash crop for local and regional markets. Despite this, farmers operate largely at subsistence level, cultivating between 0.25 and 2 acres on average countrywide, and even less in the project area of Kiroka. The potential to improve production is hampered by low productivity, poor coordination among farmers, poor marketing strategies, and a lack of knowledge and access to investment capital. The project responded to these by increasing the productivity levels of smallholder paddy producers through capacity-building, the introduction of high-yield seed varieties and other inputs, water management practices, the introduction of labour-saving technologies, and good post-harvest management practices and by improving the managerial capacity of smallholder farmers’ organizations