Ruchira Tabassum Naved - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ruchira Tabassum Naved

icddr,b, 2011

Despite the fact that the literature convincingly demonstrates the need for addressing gender iss... more Despite the fact that the literature convincingly demonstrates the need for addressing gender issues in agriculture, not only for achieving equity and well-being but also for improved productivity and overall development, the interventions designed rarely take note of this. This rapid gender assessment in agriculture of
Bangladesh aims at supporting “Expansion of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia” (CSISA) project to formulate a strategy and plan for achieving gender equity. This assessment focused on main agricultural activities in the studied villages, which included mainly cereals (rice, wheat and maize), fish, vegetables and poultry production. The assessment employed qualitative research methods. Data were collected through sixteen Key Informant Interviews, sixteen Focus Group Discussion, thirty-five In-depth Interviews and Participatory Learning and Analysis exercises such as Seasonal Calendar, Mobility Map, Spider Diagram exploring Decision Making and Impact Tree. Data were collected between February and March 2011 from eight villages in different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. Study findings show that in general, gender divide is particularly prominent when men’s and women’s activities
are compared. Thus, in contrast to men, women are more: 1) involved in home-based agricultural activities; 2) in charge of small-scale vegetable, poultry and livestock production; 3) engaged in production of perishable, but often nutrition dense foods; and 4) involved in production for own consumption rather than for the market. Women are usually not involved at all in marketing of agricultural products. This gender division of labor is exercised through enforcement of traditional gender roles; gender norms of restricted mobility and purdah; separate spheres for women and men to function and through linking women’s observance of such norms to honor of individual woman, her husband and the family. However, interaction of such gender norms with other factors, e.g., socioeconomic status and religion, and variation in how individuals, families and communities negotiate and practice these norms opens up opportunities for interventions. Thus, traditional norms are much relaxed in case of landless, small and marginalized farm households, where women are relatively more engaged in agriculture and even in field-based activities. Gender norms and practices also vary by geographic regions. Therefore, women from Thakurgaon (north-west of the country) are much more involved and visible in agriculture, whereas women from Noakhali (south-east of the country) are least involved in agriculture. Women, generally do not own productive assets such as land or pond. Most of them are not covered by extension work. They have limited access to information regarding agriculture and little decision making power. Introduction of new agricultural technology is regarded, in general, as highly favorable. It is acknowledged to improve household income, food security, nutrition and general well-being both of men and women. Technological enhancement of post harvest operations, however, usually reduces involvement of women in agriculture replacing their work by men particularly in non-marginalized farm households. Although this increases time for household chores and leisure for women from these households, this may also contribute to devaluation of women, who already have a low status relative to men in the rural society. In marginalized farm households and landless households, technology increases efficiency and involvement of women in agriculture.
This gender assessment suggests that: 1) landless, small and marginalized farm households have relatively flexible gender norms and this group would be more responsive to interventions addressing gender in agriculture than medium and large farm households; 2) it would be much more efficient to target groups of women rather than individual women; 3) women need to be linked to market chain and need to be enabled to access and control own income; 4) Extension services need to be gender friendly in targeting farmers and in designing the services taking into account women’s needs; and 4) new technology introduced in agriculture needs to carefully
consider who, when, where and how the technology will be used and what implications would it bear on gender.
The study puts forward the following general recommendations: 1) Target small and marginal farm households; 2) Make extension services more gender sensitive by focusing, specially on areas of agriculture, where women are involved and on women’s needs; training of extension workers on gender; recruitment of female extension workers; active engagement with women; considering convenience of women in mix of sex in training, training venue and timing; 3) Work through government and NGOs; 3) Develop financial literacy of women and link women with market through mobile phones; 4) Incorporate gender consideration in development of new agricultural technology. The study generates as well some village specific recommendations.

Social science & medicine (1982), 2006

Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2012

International Family Planning Perspectives - INT FAM PLAN PERSPECT, 2008

Social science & medicine, 2006

icddr,b, 2011

Despite the fact that the literature convincingly demonstrates the need for addressing gender iss... more Despite the fact that the literature convincingly demonstrates the need for addressing gender issues in agriculture, not only for achieving equity and well-being but also for improved productivity and overall development, the interventions designed rarely take note of this. This rapid gender assessment in agriculture of
Bangladesh aims at supporting “Expansion of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia” (CSISA) project to formulate a strategy and plan for achieving gender equity. This assessment focused on main agricultural activities in the studied villages, which included mainly cereals (rice, wheat and maize), fish, vegetables and poultry production. The assessment employed qualitative research methods. Data were collected through sixteen Key Informant Interviews, sixteen Focus Group Discussion, thirty-five In-depth Interviews and Participatory Learning and Analysis exercises such as Seasonal Calendar, Mobility Map, Spider Diagram exploring Decision Making and Impact Tree. Data were collected between February and March 2011 from eight villages in different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. Study findings show that in general, gender divide is particularly prominent when men’s and women’s activities
are compared. Thus, in contrast to men, women are more: 1) involved in home-based agricultural activities; 2) in charge of small-scale vegetable, poultry and livestock production; 3) engaged in production of perishable, but often nutrition dense foods; and 4) involved in production for own consumption rather than for the market. Women are usually not involved at all in marketing of agricultural products. This gender division of labor is exercised through enforcement of traditional gender roles; gender norms of restricted mobility and purdah; separate spheres for women and men to function and through linking women’s observance of such norms to honor of individual woman, her husband and the family. However, interaction of such gender norms with other factors, e.g., socioeconomic status and religion, and variation in how individuals, families and communities negotiate and practice these norms opens up opportunities for interventions. Thus, traditional norms are much relaxed in case of landless, small and marginalized farm households, where women are relatively more engaged in agriculture and even in field-based activities. Gender norms and practices also vary by geographic regions. Therefore, women from Thakurgaon (north-west of the country) are much more involved and visible in agriculture, whereas women from Noakhali (south-east of the country) are least involved in agriculture. Women, generally do not own productive assets such as land or pond. Most of them are not covered by extension work. They have limited access to information regarding agriculture and little decision making power. Introduction of new agricultural technology is regarded, in general, as highly favorable. It is acknowledged to improve household income, food security, nutrition and general well-being both of men and women. Technological enhancement of post harvest operations, however, usually reduces involvement of women in agriculture replacing their work by men particularly in non-marginalized farm households. Although this increases time for household chores and leisure for women from these households, this may also contribute to devaluation of women, who already have a low status relative to men in the rural society. In marginalized farm households and landless households, technology increases efficiency and involvement of women in agriculture.
This gender assessment suggests that: 1) landless, small and marginalized farm households have relatively flexible gender norms and this group would be more responsive to interventions addressing gender in agriculture than medium and large farm households; 2) it would be much more efficient to target groups of women rather than individual women; 3) women need to be linked to market chain and need to be enabled to access and control own income; 4) Extension services need to be gender friendly in targeting farmers and in designing the services taking into account women’s needs; and 4) new technology introduced in agriculture needs to carefully
consider who, when, where and how the technology will be used and what implications would it bear on gender.
The study puts forward the following general recommendations: 1) Target small and marginal farm households; 2) Make extension services more gender sensitive by focusing, specially on areas of agriculture, where women are involved and on women’s needs; training of extension workers on gender; recruitment of female extension workers; active engagement with women; considering convenience of women in mix of sex in training, training venue and timing; 3) Work through government and NGOs; 3) Develop financial literacy of women and link women with market through mobile phones; 4) Incorporate gender consideration in development of new agricultural technology. The study generates as well some village specific recommendations.

Social science & medicine (1982), 2006

Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2012

International Family Planning Perspectives - INT FAM PLAN PERSPECT, 2008

Social science & medicine, 2006