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)

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).

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.

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

69.86%
82.76%
88.68%
62.67%
49.40%
43.68%
45.83%
77.48%
70.37%
49.69%
30.57%
26.32%
80.88%
29.81%
15.53%
7.92%
24.52%
5.28%
2.15%
53.20%
18.49%
8.15%
16.98%
1.73%
1.50%
6.84%
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
A LL
PURCHASES
INPUTSBREAKS-UPSOILPLANTSSEEDSPLOUGHS1
Male MOH Female MOH Children from HH Male Laborer Female Laborer Other Farm Member (No family relation)
Division of primary actor status for land preparation activities on kitchen
gardens
Note: 1= Maintains agro-machinery
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE LABOUR

12.67%
23.60%
24.18%
82.75%
83.62%
87.96%
67.97%
86.95%
89.23%
76.91%
84.22%
86.97%
72.43%
87.02%
81.04%
67.65%
86.89%
76.64%
62.18%
76.86%
27.60%
85.85%
72.34%
59.43%
14.33%
10.34%
6.48%
30.15%
9.13%
4.88%
16.59%
7.36%
1.68%
25.89%
8.17%
1.90%
31.42%
10.75%
4.51%
37.44%
22.49%
66.36%
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
A LL
ALL
A LL
WEEDS
PRUNES
FRUIT
TREESIRRIGATES
CLEANS
CANALS
APPLIES
PESTICIDE
APPLIES
FERTILIZER234
Male MOH Female MOH Children from HH Male Laborer Female Laborer Other Farm Member (No family relation)
Note: 2= Speaks with neighbor in event of water conflict, 3= Speaks with irrigation service provider if water not received, 4= Feeding livestock
Division of primary actor status for crop tending activities on kitchen gardens (K),
presidential plots (P) and dehkan farms (D)

26.78%
59.05%
49.83%
61.93%
80.79%
86.93%
23.49%
45.56%
62.16%
87.06%
84.62%
72.21%
35.66%
28.32%
36.54%
16.56%
10.23%
76.23%
53.02%
36.04%
10.24%
8.17%
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
P
D
HARVESTS,
PROCESSESS&
STORESCROPSSELLSCROPSSTORESSEEDS
HIRES
LABORERS
Male MOH Female MOH Children from HH Male Laborer Female Laborer Other Farm Member (No family relation)
Division of primary actor status for processing and marketing activities on kitchen gardens (K),
presidential plots (P) and dehkan farms (D)
Note: 1= Purchase of tools, 2= Purchase of equipment

DECISION MAKING
51.45%
69.71%
82.16%
59.00%
72.11%
83.59%
68.49%
75.57%
88.69%
72.93%
81.81%
48.49%
29.80%
17.10%
40.95%
27.39%
16.03%
31.51%
23.78%
10.71%
27.02%
17.69%
K
P
D
K
P
D
K
P
D
A LL
A LL
CROP
SELECTION
PURCHASEOF
INPUTSUSEOFCREDIT12
Male HH member Female HH member Children from HH Male Laborer Female Laborer Other Farm Member (No family relation) Someone else
Division of primary decision maker status for land preparation 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
HARVESTTOSELL,
STOREAND
COSUME1
HOWTOSPEND
INCOMEFROM
CROPSALES
WHENTO
HIREWAGE
LABORERS
WHOMTO
HIREASA
WAGE
LABORER
AMOUNTTO
PAYWAGE
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
Division of primary decision maker status for crop tending activities on kitchen gardens
(K), presidential plots (P) and dehkan farms (D)

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

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

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

THANK YOU