Assignment Code: MGSE-004 / AST-01 / TMA / 2022-23

Course Code: MGSE-004

Assignment Name: Gender Issues In Agriculture, Rural Livelihoods And Natural Resource Management

Year: 2022 - 2023

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

PART- A

Write short notes on the following in 200 words each: (10 marks)

Q 1. Gender Roles

Ans) Gender roles are the roles played by the men and women in both public and private spheres.

Women’s role in agriculture related and allied activities well documented by the researchers.

Women are responsible for the half of the world’s food production. They contribute from

preparing land for cultivation to crop harvesting, livestock rearing, home gardening, fuel and

fodder collection and the collection of minor forest produce for the livelihood and food security.

Gender roles are society's gender expectations and behaviours. These roles are often founded on gender stereotypes and expectations for men and women. Gender roles can affect education, job, family, and social interactions in different cultures and time periods. Gender roles have traditionally been hierarchical, with males in power and women in domestic and caregiving tasks. In recent decades, the desire to challenge and reinterpret gender norms to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment has grown.

Women produce 90% of rice in Southeast Asia. Thailand's women farm. They do 50% of field crop cultivation, horticulture, plant protection, harvesting, and roughly 80% of soil development. They also grow mulberry trees and silk worms, preserve and process food, and conduct 90% of inland fishing. Women know farming and cooking. Men and women have different social responsibilities and requirements. Plans, strategies, and programmes should consider men and women's needs.

Q 2. Work participation rate

Ans) The work participation rate is a measure that indicates the percentage of the working-age population that is employed or actively seeking employment. This measure is used to provide insights into the labour market and the extent to which people are participating in the workforce. The work participation rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who are employed or seeking employment by the total number of people who are of working age, typically defined as individuals aged 15 to 64. This measure provides a snapshot of the level of employment and unemployment in a particular population or geographic area.

A high work participation rate is generally considered a positive indicator of a healthy and productive labour market. It suggests that a large proportion of the population is able to find work or is actively seeking employment, which can contribute to economic growth and development. A low work participation rate, on the other hand, may indicate barriers to employment, such as limited job opportunities, discrimination, or inadequate access to education and training. The work participation rate is an important metric for policymakers, as it can inform efforts to promote employment and economic growth, as well as identify and address barriers to workforce participation. By analysing trends in the work participation rate, policymakers can develop targeted policies and programs aimed at improving labour market outcomes and promoting greater access to employment opportunities for all members of society.

Q 3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Ans) The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The SDGs build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to promote sustainable development in an integrated and transformative manner. The SDGs cover a wide range of issues, including ending poverty and hunger, promoting health and well-being, ensuring quality education, achieving gender equality, reducing inequality, promoting economic growth and decent work, combating climate change and protecting the environment, promoting peace and justice, and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development.

The SDGs are important because they provide a framework for action and a shared vision for achieving sustainable development worldwide. They also provide a means for tracking progress, identifying gaps and challenges, and mobilizing resources and partnerships to address them. Achieving the SDGs will require cooperation and action at all levels, from local to global. Governments, civil society, the private sector, and individuals all have a role to play in implementing the SDGs and promoting sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals represent a collective commitment to a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all people and the planet.

Q 4. Women and Fisheries

Ans) Women have long played a critical role in the fisheries sector, both as fishers and as workers in the seafood processing and marketing industries. Despite their important contributions, however, women in fisheries have often been marginalized and overlooked in policy and management decisions. Recognizing the importance of gender equality and the need to address the specific challenges faced by women in fisheries, there has been a growing focus on promoting gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment in the fisheries sector. This has involved efforts to increase women's access to fisheries resources, improve their working conditions, and promote their participation in decision-making processes.

Promoting women's empowerment in fisheries can have a range of positive impacts, including improving the economic and social well-being of women and their families, enhancing the sustainability of fisheries, and promoting greater equity and social justice. Efforts to promote gender equality in fisheries have included initiatives such as providing training and capacity building opportunities for women, promoting women's participation in decision-making processes, and addressing gender-specific barriers to women's participation in the sector. Recognizing and resolving the unique problems faced by women in fisheries is a crucial step in achieving sustainable and equitable fisheries management and ensuring that the contributions of women in the industry are fully recognised and valued.

PART- B

Answer any two of the questions given below in 1000 words each. (30 marks)

Q 1. Discuss women’s contribution to agriculture.

Ans) Women play a critical role in agriculture, both as farmers and as workers in the agricultural sector. Despite their important contributions, however, women's work in agriculture is often undervalued and overlooked. In this essay, we will discuss the significant and diverse ways in which women contribute to agriculture worldwide. Farming is a major source of employment for women globally. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women make up nearly half of the agricultural workforce in many countries, and in some regions, they account for up to 70% of all agricultural workers. Women farmers are involved in a wide range of agricultural activities, from crop production to animal husbandry and fisheries.

Women farmers often face unique challenges, including limited access to land, credit, and other resources, as well as social and cultural barriers to their participation in the sector. Despite these challenges, women have demonstrated their ability to be successful farmers, with many using innovative techniques and technologies to improve their productivity and increase their incomes. Efforts to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in agriculture have focused on addressing these challenges and promoting women's participation in the sector. One key strategy is to increase women's access to land and other resources. This can involve legal reforms to ensure that women have equal rights to land ownership and control, as well as efforts to increase women's access to credit and other financial services.

Women's contributions to agriculture go beyond their role as farmers, however. Women also play a critical role in food processing, preservation, and marketing, helping to ensure that food is available and accessible to communities. Women are often responsible for collecting and processing wild foods, as well as for storing and preserving food for future use. In many cases, women are also responsible for selling and marketing agricultural products, helping to support local and regional food systems. Women's contributions to agriculture are not only significant in terms of food production, but also in terms of household food security and the overall economy. Women often play a critical role in managing household food supplies and ensuring that family members have access to nutritious and safe food. In many rural areas, women also play a critical role in informal food markets, selling agricultural products and contributing to the local economy.

In addition to their economic contributions, women in agriculture also play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity and preserving traditional knowledge and practices. Women farmers often have a deep understanding of local ecosystems and the plants and animals that inhabit them. They also play a critical role in preserving traditional knowledge and practices related to agriculture, such as seed saving and crop rotation. Despite their important contributions, women in agriculture often face significant barriers to their participation and success. One major challenge is limited access to land and other resources. Women often have less access to land and other resources than men and may face legal and cultural barriers to land ownership and control. This can limit their ability to engage in productive agricultural activities and to invest in their farms and households.

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in agriculture. This has involved efforts to address the specific challenges faced by women in the sector, as well as to promote their participation in decision-making processes and to increase their access to resources and technologies. Another challenge facing women in agriculture is limited access to credit and financial services. Women often have less access to credit than men and may have limited opportunities to save or invest in their farms or businesses. This can limit their ability to take advantage of new technologies or to expand their businesses.

Efforts to promote women's empowerment in agriculture have included initiatives such as providing training and capacity building opportunities for women farmers, promoting women's access to land and credit, and improving their access to information and technologies. These efforts have been shown to have a range of positive impacts, including improving food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and promoting greater social and economic equity. Another key strategy is to promote women's access to information and technologies. This can involve efforts to provide training and capacity building opportunities for women farmers, as well as efforts to promote the development and adoption of new technologies that are more accessible and appropriate for women farmers.

Overall, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in agriculture is critical to promoting sustainable and equitable food systems. By recognizing and supporting women's contributions to agriculture, we can help to ensure that women have equal opportunities to benefit from the economic and social opportunities provided by the sector, and to contribute to the development and sustainability of the food system. In conclusion, women's contributions to agriculture are significant and diverse, encompassing a wide range of activities and roles. Despite the challenges that women face in the sector, they have demonstrated their ability to be successful farmers and to play a critical role in maintaining food security, preserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable agriculture. By recognizing and supporting women's contributions to agriculture, we can promote greater equity and sustainability in the food system and help to ensure that the contributions of women are fully recognized and valued.

Q 3. Explain the significance of value-added products in the dairying sector for women's economic Empowerment.

Ans) The dairy business is an essential part of the economy, and value-added products are an important part of that industry. Value-added products can be especially crucial for providing women more control over their own financial situation. Products that have had value added to them are known as value-added products. Value can be added to raw milk in a number of different ways, including processing, packaging, branding, and marketing.

Cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice cream, and other items derived from dairy are examples of what could fall into this category. The simple act of selling raw milk can be improved upon in a number of ways by producing value-added goods. For instance, goods that have been improved in some way can fetch a higher price on the open market, which can assist dairy farmers increase their income. Additionally, value-added products can extend the shelf life of dairy products, which both makes it simpler to sell the items and reduces the amount of waste produced.

Developing new products that have an increased market value is another important step that women in the dairy business can take to increase their employment opportunities. Women are capable of performing a significant amount of the labour that is required in the production of items that have an added value, including the processing, packaging, and marketing of these products. This can make it easier for women to find work and earn an income, which in turn can assist them in becoming more financially self-sufficient.

Increasing the value of products produced in the dairy business will not only assist women better deal with the challenges they experience in the industry, but it can also help the industry as a whole. For instance, women working in the dairy business frequently struggle to obtain access to markets, the knowledge necessary to do tasks in a technically sound manner, credit, and several other resources. Dairy farmers can have greater control over how their products are created and marketed if they manufacture items with additional value and sell those products. This may be of assistance to them in dealing with some of these issues.

One way that making products with more value can help with these problems is by giving dairy farmers better access to the market. By processing and selling their own dairy products, dairy farmers can sell directly to consumers or local markets without going through middlemen. This can cut down on the costs and risks of selling raw milk and give you a better return on your investment.

The lack of technical knowledge that many women in the dairy industry face can also be helped by making products with more value. By giving dairy farmers training and technical help for making products with added value, they can learn the skills and knowledge they need to make high-quality products that meet market needs. This can help make dairy products better and more consistent, which can make them easier to sell and more profitable.

Adding value to products can also help women in the dairy business gain access to loans and other scarce resources. Dairy farmers may encourage financial institutions and other stakeholders to invest in and aid them by creating a viable and profitable market for products with added value. This can provide them with the funds they require to expand and improve production as well as construct the infrastructure required to produce and market items with added value.

Adding value to products can also help make the dairy industry more equal for women and men. Developing products with added value can help empower women in the sector by giving them new ways to make money and find work, as well as by giving them a bigger say in how decisions are made. Also, by encouraging the development of locally made dairy products, the development of value-added products can help to support local food systems, which can improve food security and help the development of sustainable and fair food systems. Value-added products can help the economy, but they can also help people and the environment in important ways. For example, making products with added value can help cut down on the amount of milk that is wasted or sold at low prices, which can help the dairy industry make more money and last longer. Also, making products with added value can help make new markets for locally made dairy products, which can help support the growth of local food systems and improve food security.

India is a good example of how value-added products can help women in the dairy industry get more control over their money. In India, women play an important role in the dairy industry, and the creation of products with added value has helped them make more money and improve their lives. For example, the Amul dairy cooperative has done a good job of making products with added value, such as cheese, butter, and yoghurt. The cooperative has also built a large marketing and distribution network, which has helped get the word out about these products and make them easier to sell. This has given the women in the cooperative new ways to work and make money, which has helped them become more financially independent.

Overall, creating products with added value in the dairying industry can be a big part of giving women more economic power. Value-added products can help make food systems more fair and sustainable by giving women in the dairy industry more ways to get jobs and make money and by making locally made dairy products last longer and be easier to sell. They can also help empower women in the dairy sector.

In conclusion, creating products with added value in the dairying industry can be a big part of giving women more economic power. The development of value-added products can help improve the sustainability and marketability of locally produced dairy products. It can also help promote gender equality and give women in the sector more power by giving them new job and income-generating opportunities and by solving some of the problems they face. As a result, value-added products are a useful tool for making food systems more fair, sustainable, and resilient, and for giving women in agriculture more power