PHM-Exch> FAO: The State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011 - Women in Agriculture Closing the gender gap for development

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


 *The State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011  *

*Women in Agriculture -Closing the gender gap for development

*

Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension

*Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO- Rome, Italy

*

Available online at: http://bit.ly/hXj1zu**

*
*“…..This edition of *The State of Food and Agriculture *addresses *Women in
agriculture: closing the gender gap for development*. The agriculture sector
is underperforming in many developing countries, and one of the key reasons
is that women do not have equal access to the resources and opportunities
they need to be more productive. This report clearly confirms that the
Millennium Development Goals on gender equality (MDG 3) and poverty and food
security (MDG 1) are mutually reinforcing.



“……Women make crucial contributions in agriculture and rural enterprises in
all developing country regions, as farmers, workers and entrepreneurs. Their
roles vary across regions but, everywhere, women face gender-specific
constraints that reduce their productivity and limit their contributions to
agricultural production, economic growth and the well-being of their
families, communities and countries.

Women face a serious gender gap in access to productive resources. Women
control less land than men and the land they control is often of poorer
quality and their tenure is insecure. Women own fewer of the working animals
needed in farming.



They also frequently do not control the income from the typically small
animals they manage. Women farmers are less likely than men to use modern
inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, pest control measures and
mechanical tools. They also use less credit and often do not control the
credit they obtain.

Finally, women have less education and less access to extension services,
which make it more difficult to gain access to and use some of the other
resources, such as land, credit and fertilizer. These factors also prevent
women from adopting new technologies as readily as men do. The constraints
women face are often interrelated and need to be addressed holistically….”



*Contents *

*
PART I - Women in agriculture: closing the gender gap for development *



*1. The gender gap in agriculture *

Structure of the report and key messages

Key messages of the report



*2. Women’s work*

Women in agriculture

Women in rural labour markets



*3. Documenting the gender gap in agriculture  *

Land

Livestock

Farm labour

Education

Information and extension

Financial services

Technology



*4. Gains from closing the gender gap *

Productivity of male and female farmers

Production gains from closing the gender gap

Other social and economic benefits of closing the gender gap



*5. Closing the gender gap in agriculture and rural employment  *

Closing the gap in access to land

Closing the gap in rural labour markets

Closing the financial services gap

Closing the gap in social capital through women’s groups

Closing the technology gap



*6. Closing the gender gap for development  *



*PART II - World food and agriculture in review  *



Trends in undernourishment

Food production, consumption and trade during the crises

Recent trends in agricultural prices: a higher price plateau, and greater
price volatility

Conclusions



*PART III - Statistical annex  *



Notes on the Annex tables



Table A1  Total population, female share of population and rural share of
population in 1980, 1995 and 2010



Table A2  Female share of national, rural and urban population aged 15–49,
most recent and earliest observations



Table A3  Economically active population, female share of economically
active population and agricultural share of economically active women in
1980, 1995 and 2010



Table A4  Economically active population, agricultural share of economically
active population   and female share of economically active in agriculture
in 1980, 1995 and 2010



Table A5  Share of households in rural areas that are female-headed, most
recent and earliest observations, and total agricultural holders and female
share of agricultural holders, most recent observation



Table A6  Share of adult population with chronic energy deficiency (CED –
body mass index less than 18.5) by sex and share of children underweight by
sex, residence and household wealth quintile, most recent observations



References

Special chapters of The State of Food and Agriculture
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