This presentation was given by Saikia Panchali (IWMI), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 5-6 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
Gender, agricultural activities and water governance in rural Tajikistan in midst of male-out migration
1. GENDER, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
AND WATER GOVERNANCE IN RURAL
TAJIKISTAN IN MIDST OF MALE-OUT
MIGRATION
Pictures: Shifo Sharifzoda and Katie Macdonald, IWMI interns
Panchali Saikia and Marie-Charlotte Buisson
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
2. METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Data used in this paper is based on a
household survey conducted in southern
Tajikistan under a project on ‘Impact of
Water Users Associations on Water and
Land Productivity, Equity and Food Security
in Tajikistan’ funded by USAID
1920 household were surveyed in 2016,
located in 160 villages belonging to the 80
jamoats previously surveyed in 2015
(Jamoats with similar characteristics in
terms of agricultural patterns, source of
water for irrigation, population, access to
infrastructure and markets).
3. QUESTIONNAIRE INSTRUMENT AND RESPONDENTS
Sec
tio
n
Title Description
1 Identification Enumerator identification, household identification,
individual identification with household’s member
roster
2 Agricultural land and
farm membership
Ownership of different plots, areas cultivated,
source of water
3 Agricultural labor
division and decision
making
Main contributors, main decision makers to
agricultural activities for each type of plot
4 Crops, inputs and costs,
water management,
livestock
Characteristics of the homestead production system
5 Trainings Household members’ participation in training
related to agriculture or water management
6 Community
participation and water
governance
Participation in groups and in WUAs
7 Food security Food shortages, coping strategies and food security
indicators
8 Migration Migrants from the household and remittances
9 Household income,
credits and loans
Type of income-generating activities by member,
main sources of income, indebtedness
10 Household assets Characteristics of the house and asset ownership
Respondent:
• Women from the selected
households; wife of the head of
household (67%) or the head of
household herself (if she lives
alone) who responded (10%).
• In few cases daughter-in-law of
the head of household (14%)
who responded.
• In 43% of the interviews
conducted, men were present
during at least some part of the
discussion.
• Most commonly for Sections 2
and 4 and men were called upon
to answer parts of the
questionnaire in 45% of cases.
4. FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
MALE OUT-MIGRATION
Migration
Number Percent
Valid No 1016 52.9
Yes 904 47.1
Total 1920 100.0
• On an average the duration of the
immigration is 10.4
• Mostly young household members,
between the age of 30-35 who migrates.
• Majority migrating to either Russia or to
another place in Tajikistan
10. Division of primary decision maker status for harvesting and processing activities on
kitchen gardens (K), presidential plots (P) and dehkan farms (D)
44.73%
65.84%
76.86%
65.44%
58.26%
67.02%
81.82%
77.49%
83.33%
78.16%
83.89%
77.53%
84.69%
55.20%
33.54%
22.75%
34.48%
41.45%
31.91%
17.70%
21.20%
12.61%
21.05%
14.69%
20.27%
14.35%
K
P
D
A LL
K
P
D
P
D
P
D
P
D
AMOUNTOF
HARVESTTO
SELL,STORE
ANDCOSUME1
HOWTOSPEND
INCOMEFROM
CROPSALES
WHENTO
HIRE
WAGE
LABORERS
WHOMTO
HIREASA
WAGE
LABORER
AMOUNT
TOPAY
WAGE
LABORER
Male MOH Female MOH Children from HH
Male Laborer Female Laborer Other Farm Member (No family relation)
Someone else
Note: 1= Amount of livestock and poultry products to sell, store and consume
11. DISCUSSION: INCREASED WORKLOAD POST
MIGRATION
experienced an increase in workload in following activities Frequency Percent
Valid Field activities (agriculture) 309 16.1
Income generating activities (non-agri) 9 .5
Looking after children or elderly 74 3.9
Household work 175 9.1
Total 567 29.5
Missing System 1353 70.5
Total 1920 100.0
experiences an increased workload
post migration) Frequency Percent
Valid No 337 17.6
Yes 567 29.5
Total 904 47.1
Missing System 1016 52.9
Total 1920 100.0
12. DISCUSSION: GENDER EQUITY IN WATER
GOVERNANCE
• Knowledge of Irrigation Water
Management Institutions and
whom to pay the water fees.
• Access to agricultural
programmes and extension
services
• Increasing workload and time
constraint to participate in WUAs
Migration
47.1% of the households have migrants, and predominately it is male who migrates (99.3%). The popular migrant destination is Russia. Majority of these migrants were either engaged in agricultural activities (own/family farm) or were jobless before migration. The remittances are mostly spend on basic food items, which was noted as the priority use. This was followed by spending on clothes and health.
Male out migration----increasing number of female farm managers in southern Tajikistan,
Active involvement of farm managers across different gender categories, and as WUA members is critical step towards the institutions’ overall success and longevity.
Over last five years female headed farms have increased from 4,237 in 2009 to 14,014 in 2014, representing 13% of total farm ownership (Hasansoda 2015, p.52).
Migrant Vs Non-migrant
Land preparation activities in kitchen plots, female MOH from migrant households form a greater proportion of the total individuals listed as the primary actor. Not significant for presidential.
For on dehkan farm plots, high percentage of female MOH from migrant households are responsible for the purchase of inputs and the planting of seeds and saplings (11% and 15%) than female MOH from non-migrant households (3% and 6%). Purchasing input, it is significant at the 1% level (p=0.002). Maintenance of agro-machines by female is also high in migrant household.
In kitchen garden, a significant difference is noted between migrant and non-migrant household. Female members from migrant household were more involved in weeding, pruning fruit trees applying irrigation water, cleaning irrigation canals, and applying pesticides and fertilizer in comparison to non-migrant. This was also noted in dekhan farm
Lack of knowledge and access to information. 24% of the respondents said that the fees were paid to jamoats, yet jamoats usually do not have a direct role to play in water provision or fees collection for water and only vodkhoz and WUAs (where existing) should have this role. Women seem to lack awareness on water agencies and extension services
Timing is an issue: women reported that the timings are odd and inconvenient; many are not even aware of what the timing
The fees are asked to be paid before the harvest (not enough cash income); confusion around the fees