1. International
Food Security Dialogue
2014

2. The contents of the paper were largely derived
from the baseline survey results of the IDRC
funded project on
“Enhanced Preservation of Fruits in South Asia”

3. The financial support of the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC), the
Government of Canada, provided through
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Canada (DFATD) is gratefully acknowledged.

4. Thanks to
University of Alberta
for hosting the
International Food Security Dialogue 2014

5. Theme 2
Gender and Livelihoods

6. Session 1
From Analysis to Action through
Household Data

7. Gender Inequity in Farm Decision Making
and Resource Ownership and the Need for
Empowering Women to Achieve
Food Security
Dr.C.Sekar
Dr.K.S.Subramanian
Dr.Jayashankar Subramanian
Mr.L.Vijaya Prakash

8. • A significant and crucial role in agricultural
development and allied fields
• Roles vary considerably between and within regions
• Manage multifaceted household activities and perform
various livelihood strategies
Role of Women in Agriculture

9. Major Activities
Producing crops
Tending animals
Processing farm produce and preparing food
Working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises
Collecting fuel, fodder for animals and water
Marketing farm grown commodities
Caring family and maintaining homes
•

10. Concern ?
Many of women’s activities are not effusively
recognized
Not acknowledged appropriately in spite of the fact that
they are most important and essential to the household
food security and welfare.

11. Facts
Comprise almost half of the world’s agricultural
workforce
Not even recognized as farmers
Widespread restrictions on decision making about the
basic resources for production

12. Rationale of the study
Enhancing the participation of farm women in making
decisions would lead to improvements in yield and farm
income.
Women understand the dynamics of crop production
effectively due to their close association and involvement.

13. Women’s power could be used to direct household
resources towards improving their caring practices and
facilitate improvement of the health and nutritional
status of household.
Reducing gender inequity and ensuring food security
are vital as it relates not only to the present generation
but also the future population.

14. Objectives
to study the right of ownership of productive farm
resources such as land
to assess the role of women in farm related
occupations, and
to estimate the extent of female participation in
decision making with respect to farm operations
which will have far reaching effect on household food
security.

15. Project Area
Western part of Tamil Nadu state, India,
where perennial fruit crops like mango is
predominantly grown.

16. Map showing the states in India and the project state
Area

17. Study Regions in the state of Tamil Nadu

18. Methodology
Baseline Survey
i. Krishnagiri
ii. Theni
iii. Kanyakumari

19. Distribution of sample farmers in Krishnagiri
S. No Name of Block
1 Bargur I
2 Bargur II
3 Kaveripattinam I
4 Kaveripattinam II
5 Mathur II
6 Krishnagiri

20. Blocks in Krishnagiri District

21. Distribution of samples in Theni
S. No Block Number
1. Periyakulam 30
2. Bodi 30
3. Theni 30
4. Andipatti 30
Total 120

22. Blocks in Theni District

23. Distribution of sample respondents in Kanyakumari
S. No Block Variety
Sample size
(Number)
1, Agastheeswaram Neelum 15
2, Rajakkamangalam Neelum 15
Total 30

24. Blocks in Kanyakumari district

25. Major Results of the study

26. Distribution of farmers in the project area
S. No Type of farmers
Total
Number Percentage
1, Marginal 148 26.91
2, Small 151 27.45
3, Semi Medium 105 19.09
4, Medium and Large 146 26.55
Total 550 100.00

27. Distribution of Farmers based on Land Holding
26.91 %
27.45 %
19.09 %
26.55 %
Marginal
Small
Semi Medium
Medium and Large

28. Memberships in CBO
S. No Type of farmers
Total
Number Percentage
1, Marginal 5 3.42
2, Small 19 13.01
3, Semi Medium 24 16.44
4, Medium and Large 98 67.12
Total 146 100.00

29. Gender Distribution in CBO
S. No Type of farmers
Women – 8.22 Per cent
Number Women
1, Marginal 5 -
2, Small 19 2
3, Semi Medium 24 4
4, Medium and Large 98 6
Total 146 12

30. Occupational distribution of the head of the household
S. No Type of farmers Number Percentage
1. Cultivator 501 91.09
2. Cultivator + Agricultural
labour
13 2.36
3. Cultivator + Non
Agricultural labour
1 0.18
4. Cultivator + Entrepreneur 13 2.36
5. Cultivator + Private
Employee
11 2.00
6. Cultivator + Government
Employee
11 2.00
Total 550 100.00

31. Ownership of farm land
S. No Gender Number Percentage
1. Male 371 67.45
2. Female 38 6.91
3. Both 141 25.64
Total 550 100.00

32. Details about ownership of non - farm assets
S. No Gender Number Percentage
1. Male 540 98.18
2. Female 7 1.27
3. Both 3 0.55
Total 550 100.00

33. Farm wages-Gender gap
The gender gap in wages - Not uncommon
Wage difference across gender universally reported.
Female wages as a percentage of male wages are 50-60
per cent.
For eight hours of field operations.
Men : Rs.300 -350
Women : Rs.150-160
Gender disparity in wages.

34. Due to non availability of men labors, some of the farm
operations like guiding water, digging pits, harvesting etc.
which were previously performed by men are done by
women but the wage remains unchanged.
In some farms, the women laborers have been
purposively engaged for all farm operations mainly to
reduce cost of operations.

35. • In the study area, it is a common phenomenon that
many of the wage earners spent part of their earnings in
the liquor shop but the women used to spend their entire
wage for the welfare of the household.
Payment of wages on par with men will
ensure household food security.

36. Possession of livestock
• In animal rearing, women have a multiple role - Take care
of animals, grazing, fodder collection, cleaning of farm
and animal sheds to milking of animals and value addition
of livestock products.
• The possession of animals like cow, goat, sheep and hen
was highly preferred as it provide additional source of
revenue to the farm families and they are the source of
indemnity to meet the unforeseen situations.

37. Livestock and Poultry
Source of income to meet the day to day affairs of the
households like purchase of provisions, vegetables, children’s
food, educational expenses etc.
Major source of income for women farmers during
festivals, and family ceremonies.
Now-a-days, the demand for country (desi) hens and cocks
are more, particularly during festive seasons.

38. • The contribution of money by women during
carnivals and unforeseen occasions through animal
rearing had been well acknowledged by the men
members of the family.
• The animal rearing in fact helps to keep the
households’ food security unchanged during the years of
crop failures owing to poor monsoon, less fruit setting,
severe wind and other unforeseen agro-climatic
circumstances

39. Decision making regarding the maintenance and
sale of livestock
S. No Gender Number Percentage
1. Male 90 25.64
2. Female 176 50.14
3. Both 85 24.22
Total 351 100.00

40. Area under crops
S. No Crop Area
(Ha)
Percentage
1. Annual crop 0.27 4.68
2. Perennial crop 5.50 95.32
Total 5.77 100.00

41. Area under major perennial crops
S. No Name of the crop Average area (Ha)
1, Mango 2.33
2, Guava 0.20
3, Banana 0.29
4, Coconut 2.04
5, Sappota 0.04
6, Citrus 0.03
7, Jack 0.03
8, Cashewnut 0.03
9, Others 0.50
Total 5.50

42. Decision making with respect to choice of crops
S. No Gender Number Percentage
1. Male 379 68.91
2. Female 51 9.27
3. Both 120 21.82
Total 550 100.00

43. Decision making with respect to choice of crops
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Men
Women
Both
68.91 %
9.27 %
21.82%

45. Decisions towards control of pest and disease
S. No Gender
Control of pests Control of diseases
Number Percentage Number Percentage
1. Male 401 72.91 368 66.91
2. Female 58 10.54 56 10.18
3. Both 91 16.55 126 22.91
Total 550 100.00 550 100.00

46. Involvement of gender in executing
post harvest operations
S. No
Name of the
activity
Gender
Total
Number Percentage
1, Harvesting and
Collection
Male 137 24.91
Female 9 1.64
Both 404 73.45
Total 550 100.00
2, Grading and Sorting Male 5 9.43
Female 40 75.47
Both 8 15.10
Total 53 100.00
3, Packaging Male 112 20.36
Female 306 55.64
Both 132 24.00

53. Decisions regarding marketing
S.No. Gender
Total
Number Percentage
1, Male 334 60.72
2, Female 97 17.64
3, Both 119 21.64
Total 550 100.00

54. Per Capita Food Expenditure
S. No Food Items
Expenditure
(Rs./Year)
Percentage
1 Cereals 2082 7.95
2 Pulses and pulse substitutes 978 3.74
3 Edible oils 1050 4.01
4 Fruits 1483 5.66
5 Vegetables 1708 6.52
6 Spices & condiments 785 3.00
7 Milk and milk products 1762 6.73
8
Beverages, refreshments and
processed and semi -processed
food products
1793 6.85
9
Non-vegetarian foods (chicken,
meat, egg fish etc.)
1156 4.42
10 Others (salt, sugar etc.) 577 2.20

55. Non Food Consumption Expenditure
S. No Non-Food Items
Expenditure
(Rs./Year)
Percentage
1 Clothing 1986 7.59
2 Education 1859 7.10
3 Travel and recreation 1163 4.44
4 Medical and health related expenses 1595 6.09
5 Ceremony, festival and function 1684 6.43
6 Fuel and lighting 1908 7.29
7 Purchase of durable goods 1363 5.21
8
Others ( payment of taxes, insurance,
consumer services, rent etc.
1248 4.77
Total 26180 100.00

56. Percentage of Expenditure on Food
Very High - > 75
Vulnerable to Food insecurity
High - 65-75
Medium - 50-65
Low - < 50
Source : Smith and Subandoro (2007) p.82

57. Decision with respect to Consumption of
Food and Non-Food Commodities
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Male Female Both
Food Percentage Non-food Percentage
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
Gender

58. INTERVENSIONS
Formation of Mango Producers’ Group
Institutionalizing mango cultivation
Focus group discussion
Training on best post-harvest management technologies to 45 Mango
Producers Groups (MPG), comprising 750 mango growers in Tamil
Nadu (over 60% represented by women).
Hands on training on “value addition of mangoes” to women MPG

59. Field Level Seminar on Pre and Post Production Management of Mango

60. A Section of the Farmers attending the Seminar

61. Mango Producers’ Group attending the Meeting on Post
Harvest Management of Mango

62. OUTCOME
Measurable Outcome
Active participation of women in farm decisions such as
production, harvesting, grading, and packaging
enhanced by 7 per cent.
Adoption of good agricultural and farm management
practices increased by 22 per cent.
Household income increased by Rs. 7200 (US$120) per
family owning an average area of 1.28 hectares per year
due to the adoption of best post-harvest management
practices.

63. Involvement of Women in Farm Level
Decision Making
S. No Source Before (%) After (%)
1 Sale of live Stock 50 58
2 Marketing 18 24
3 Packaging 55 66
4 Collection, grading and sorting 75 79
5 Harvesting 2 6
6 Control of diseases 10 18
7 Control of pest 11 19
8 Choice of crops 9 15

64. OUTCOME
Post-harvest losses at the field level have come down by 10 per cent
(700-900 Kg ha-1) through the adoption of appropriate harvesting and
post harvest practices viz., use of suitable harvesting tools, and
techniques of fruit collection, cleaning, grading, sorting, packaging
and transport.
• Reduction of post-harvest losses has resulted in the greater availability
of quality fruits in the market, thereby generating an additional
income of Rs. 5600 (US$100) ha-1 year -1.

65. Focus Group Discussion with MPG

66. Hands on Training on Value Addition

67. Capacity Building of MPGs

68. Hands-on training on value added products, such as mango-
based pickles and sweets enhanced household income by 7-
10 per cent. This money is being used for education and
health expenses as well as buying more nutritious food such
as green vegetables.
With the support of this project, women were able to
participate more actively in production and post-production
management decisions.

69. “I feel proud that I have convinced my husband to
consider my farm decision after associating with the
Mango Producers Group formed under IDRC Project”
Mrs.Dhanalakshmi,Mango Producers Group,
MoramaduguVillage, Krishnagiri,Tamil Nadu, India”

70. Conclusion and Recommendations
The study concluded that the gender inequality in farm related
decisions was not uncommon in spite of the fact that women shared
majority of activities and contribute largely in enhancing farm income
and achieving grass root level food security.

71. It is a common phenomenon that many of the male wage earners spent
part of their earnings in the liquor shop but the women used to spend
their entire wage for the welfare of the household members. At this
context, payment of wages on par with men will enhance household
income and ensure household food security.

72. Women are being trained on the importance and their role in
participation of farm and home level decision making
processes.
• The women members are taught through PRA mode (like focus
group discussion, information sharing etc.) to understand the
need of empowering themselves to achieve household level food
security.

73. • The issues like poverty and nutritional security could very well be
addressed by empowering women with increased access to critical
resources like land enhanced participation of women in farm decision
making.
• Grass root level food securitycouldbe achievedthrough emancipation
of women from the clutchesof men neglecting women in farm decision
making processand disparityin the accessand ownership of farm
resources

74. • Improving women’s productivity in agriculture not only increases food
availability for the household but also raises women’s income and
enhances food security due to women’s spending patterns.
• The outcome of the study suggested that redressing the gender gap in
asset possession and decision making is the key aspect in improving
farm productivity and subsequently the employment, income and
ultimate household food security.

75. The formation of Women Empowerment Groups to improve rights and
access to services would be a well-established means of social and
economic empowerment in which members would increase productivity
and incomes collectively.

76. Capacity building is another important area that is required to ensure
that women remain active members and assume important positions in
leadership and decision making in economic activities to ensure
household level food and nutritional security.

77. Discussion