Towards integrated assessment of gender relations in farming systems analysis by carl timler

Towards integrated assessment of gender relations in farming systems analysis by carl timler

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  Towards integrated assessmentof gender relations in farming systems analysis Karoline Hemminger, Bettina Bock, Jeroen Groot, Mirja Michalscheck, Carl Timler Introduction A) Conceptual Framework (Figure 1) Farming systems analysis aims to identify solutions for enhancing the income and food security of farm households. It combines analyses of biophysical and economic data but does not yet sufficiently consider gender aspects. Therefore it is the objective of this study to show ways in which gender analysis can be integrated in farm models. Results Conclusions Figure 1. Conceptual framework showing 4 types of gendered access to productive resources necessary for agricultural intensification. Extension to the gender wheel by Parker et al. (1995) Acknowledgements We want to thank the participating experts and farmers. The case study was financed by the Africa RISING programme funded by the Feed the Future Initiative of the United States Agency for International Development. The farmer interviews were enabled through the organization of the SIMLEZA project of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Methods • Conceptual Framework Analysis – Literature Review – 7 Expert Interviews – 8 qualitative interviews with female farmers in Zambia • Suggestions for model development Two possible approaches to include gender analysis. B) Extension to DEED-approach (Figure 2) • Describe: Gender division of agricultural and domestic labour • Explain: Consequences for male and female agricultural productivity • Explore: Technologies to enhance male/female labour productivity • Design: Changes to farming system based on the different interests of all household members • Gender-sensitivity of research cannot be reached by adding single indicators to existing models. An holistic approach with clear gender objectives is needed. • Gender-responsiveness of research is the minimum to ensure that gender relations are not affected in a negative way. Yet agricultural interventions also hold the potential to facilitate gender equality among participating farmers. • Systematic inclusion of gender assessment in farming system analysis would benefit farmers, agricultural researchers as well as gender scientists. • Access to key resources for agricultural intensification is different for men and women. • Agricultural intervention will inevitably affect gender relations. Figure 2. Suggestions for a gender-responsive vs. gender-transformative extension to the DEED- approach to farm-scale models (described by Giller et al. 2011). Practical gender needs are the different needs of men and women that derive from their involvement in different tasks. Strategic gender needs derive from women’s subordinate position in society (Moser 1993). C) Model Development: The Example of Labour (Figure 3) Figure 3. Inter-linkages between gender division of responsibilities and on farm labour requirement. Wageningen University P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen Contact: [email protected] T + 31 (0)317 48 59 24 www.wageningenUR.nl/fse