Increased Economic Autonomy and Contribution in the Value Chain Productivity: Women Farmers’ Journey
Across multiple value chains, women producers’ potential is restricted by a division of roles and responsibilities between women and men that exclude women from decision-making process. Their participation in value chains is critical, yet they still face gender-specific constraints and challenges in owning, accessing, and controlling resources that affect their productivity, livelihood, and income.
FAO adopted the Farmers’ Field School (FFS) approach as an entry point for promoting women’s participation in the fruits and vegetables value chain and addressing gender inequalities. FFS is a participatory approach for strengthening farmers know-how through experiential learning and regular meetings following the crop cycle.
Men and women farmers were able to interact on equal basis at the individual, farm household and village level.
“Mixing and applying pesticides was my husband's work…”, says Dalal a women farmer. "We are both following the FFS training sessions. She is now joining me in the farming activities,” Dalal’s husband says.
FFS along with technical and leadership skill development, and access to production inputs, has been key success factors for increasing women’s engagement in agriculture and inducing new roles.
“Thanks to the trainings and inputs I received, I am applying the Integrated Pest Management[1] and keeping records. I have safer, better-quality produce and I am now deciding on everything along with my brother, “says Darine, a women farmer.
From her side, Amira, a woman farmer is now confident of her technical and negotiation skills… “I can be in the wholesale market, bargaining and selling my products”, proudly says Amira.
Amira, Dalal and Darine are now seeking to further improve their farming business and increasing the value addition of their produce.
About the PSDP:
The Productive Sectors Development Program is a joint-UN initiative funded by the Government of Canada, coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and implemented by Participating UN Organizations : United Nations Industrial Development Office (UNIDO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Project (UNDP), International Labor Organization (ILO) , UN WOMEN, and United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) supporting gender-responsive job creation and economic opportunities in the agriculture and agri-food sectors for MSMEs, cooperatives and farmers.
[1] IPM is the careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations