Women in Agriculture

Agricultural production in Northern Ghana is dominated by smallholder farm systems, which are characterized by low inputs and low outputs, declining soil fertility, large yield gaps and limited adoption of agricultural technologies. There is an urgent need for alternative farm designs that are more productive, yet more sustainable. Technology packages for sustainable intensification are promoted by an R4D project in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana. In this paper, we analyse differences in perceived suitability, and modelled technical impact per technology package. We used a locally validated framework to categorise farm systems diversity that considers both, the horizontal (between households) and vertical (within households) dimension of diversity. Farm households were classified along a gradient of resource endowment. We selected one representative farm per type and per region to assess and compare their socioeconomic and environmental performance (farm profitability, labour and soil organic matter inputs) using the whole-farm model Farm DESIGN. We then used Farm DESIGN to assess the potential impact of five proposed technology packages and to explore promising alternative farm configurations. We discussed model assumptions and results with farmers, including alternative cropping patterns and trade-offs. We evaluated the packages with different household members using a weighted scoring technique, subsequently juxtaposing model results with farmer perceptions. Large differences prevailed among and within farms per type and per region, with low resource endowed farms being projected to benefit most in relative and least in absolute terms from an adoption of the packages. Farmer feedback confirmed the accuracy of alternative farm configurations, as determined by the model. However, the feedback also revealed that the most profitable farm designs would be hard to attain in reality, particularly for members of low and medium resource endowed households, due to high initial investment costs. Within households, women were more positive about the packages than men, since men heavily penalized extra costs and labour, translating into a greater congruence of model results with the male evaluation. We discuss the importance of distinguishing between technical (technology i.e. purchased tools and inputs) and managerial (techniques e.g. row planting) package components. We conclude that operationalizing inter-and intra-household diversity is a fundamental step in identifying sensible solutions for the challenges smallholder farm systems face in Northern Ghana.

Agribusiness remains central to food security, job creation and inclusive economic growth in many low-income economies. Around the world companies in the sector typically operate under lean margins and intense competition. Mounting evidence confirms that gender-smart solutions in agribusiness can increase the sector’s productivity and profitability and lead to stronger, more integrated value chains.

The Business Case for Investing in Women in Agribusiness demonstrates how five agribusiness companies in emerging markets are reducing costs and boosting productivity by investing in women as part of their direct workforce, and aims to fill existing gaps in the literature regarding women’s paid employment in agribusiness.

The company case studies span across a range of regions and sub-sectors, and include:

- Afrifresh, a citrus and grape producer in South Africa;
- Biosev, a sugarcane processing company in Brazil;
- SolTuna, a fish processing company in Solomon Islands;
- Supreme Poultry, a poultry processing company in South Africa; and
- Vinaseed, a seed production company in Vietnam.

Improving the quality and quantity of jobs for women in agriculture can contribute to poverty reduction and an increase in family and social welfare.

This presentation discusses CARE’s experience of adopting Outcome Mapping methodology not only to monitor but also to promote gender-related behavior changes within a multi-country women in food security and agriculture program. CARE has now applied this OM methodology, with modifications, in seven countries and three unique agriculture and food security programs. This presentation focuses on our experiences of applying OM at different stages of a given project – mid-term and at the program-design stages of a program.

In this presentation, we illustrate the process we used to create a common framework and country-specific progress marker sets for monitoring gender-related behavior changes among women, men, and implementing staff in Malawi, Mali, Ghana, India, and Ethiopia, starting at the mid-term evaluation stages of the programs.  We present the operational framework that we developed and lessons learned in supporting the teams to effectively monitor the Progress Markers, conduct their own data analysis, and re-confirm the order and logic of their Progress Marker sets.

We also share how we have integrated OM concepts into our gender analysis approach, allowing teams to establish gender-specific goals and develop progress marker sets from the program design stages (in Malawi, and Zimbabwe).

Finally, we also share some of the progressive behavior changes observed in men’s and women’s behaviors—including those of staff involved in the respective programs.

he performance of women agribusiness cooperatives in Oyo State, Nigeria was assessed in this study. The study employed a multi-stage sampling technique to select 6 women cooperative groups (aggregating to 175 individuals); 36 individual women; and 4 institutions across 6 LGAs in two agricultural zones of the State. Findings show that majority (55.6%) of the respondents belong to processing organization and 86.1% participate in community development activities. Various benefits were indicated by the respondents as being gained from cooperative membership. Such benefits include access to credit (51.1%), access to group assets (34%), and financial assistance by the group (14.9%). A considerable number (52.8%) of the respondents did not receive any training. Majority (63.9%, 58.3%, and 55.6%) of the respondents indicated the need for training in cassava value addition, marketing strategies, and agribusiness management respectively. Drudgery (100%), inadequate capital (97.2%), and low return on investment (88.9%) were rated highest among the constraints militating the performance of the cooperatives. The major problems inhibiting women participation in agribusiness cooperatives identified in the study should be ameliorated using appropriate policy options. Government should engender commitment through appropriate legislative appropriation and budget. Also, Government should ensure that regular training and appropriate gender-sensitive technologies are provided for women agricultural activities through relevant research and extension agencies.

WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN TURKEY
ABSTRACT
Despite all the contributions of women in production, they do not receive the reward of their labor, and women are deprived of all Social Security rights as unpaid family workers.They also receive a lower wage than they do, even though they do the same work as men where they go as seasonal workers. The tables and graphs given show the place of women in agriculture and employment. The ideologies prevailing in the relevant field regarding the nature and size of the land cultivated, the type of crop grown, and the position of women significantly affect the way women participate in agricultural production. The working styles of women in agriculture in the world are three types: unpaid family workers in their own agricultural enterprises, unpaid workers in agricultural enterprises belonging to others, and wage workers in agricultural enterprises belonging to others. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the employment of women in the agricultural sector, and suggestions for the problem were developed. Women's employment is important in creating equal opportunities. For this reason, the unfavorable picture of women's employment needs to change positively.