Gender and value chain analysis of cottage industry : a case of home-base Balochi embroidery women workers in Balochistan, Pakistan | |
| Author | Alizai, Mehwish Qudoos |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-12-12 |
| Subject(s) | Cottage industries--Pakistan--Balochistan Women employees--Pakistan--Balochistan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies, Alizai, Mehwish Qudoos |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-12-12 |
| Abstract | The informal sector is unregis tered, unorganized and unrecognized in most of developing countries in general and Pakistan in particular. Being informal in its nature but contributing to the formal economy. The informal sector provides employment to an overwhelming number of people acro ss the globe. Home - based cottage industry is one of the best income generating sources in most of the developing countries in general, Pakistan in particular. Literature demonstrated that estimated 300 million home - based workers were found engaged in the d eveloping countries and over half of them are women, while 80% of them belong to the poorest families. Women home - based workers have significantly contributed to their household incomes by engaging in certain types of home - based activities. The general obj ective of this study is to understand the gender perspective of home - based Balochi embroidery production, potential and problems encountered in Balochistan, Pakistan. Quetta and Mastung (districts) of Balochistan as study area were selected for this study. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of social research acquiring the data and information where semi - structure questionnaire was employed at household level accompanied number of checklists for focus group discussions and key info rmants. The empirical findings of the study revealed that in Balochistan most of women were engaged in home - based income generating activities, for example, producing handicrafts and livestock rearing etc. Balochi Hand - made embroidery production is pre dominantly an important home - based income generating activity for women in the rural areas of Balochistan. Like other areas, what is similar in case of the hand - made embroidery in Balochistan? Behind this cottage industry mostly women are involved in rathe r than men - folk. Balochi embroidery is considered culturally rich, sign of beauty and more significantly as a symbol of Baloch tradition. These embroidered pieces have high demand both in rural and urban Balochistan. Nevertheless, the Balochi hand - made emb roidery is carryout through informal modes (i.e., at household or community level in most instances), is unorganized, and mostly not affiliated with any institutions/organization. This is why they are easily exploited by different actors within the Balochi embroidery value chain. The findings of this research study anticipated to have policy implications and scope with line organizations and women home - based embroidery workers especially engaged in hand - made Balochi embroidery production in a diverse rura l settings of Balochistan, Pakistan and elsewhere associated with similar problems and challenges in common. As a result, Home - based women workers and especially the Balochi embroidery workers could not grow - up in terms of expansion of the work, earning be tter returns and popularity through institutions support required. However home - based work is not a homogenous entity, this study will at least provide an entry point for further researches. The key findings demonstrated that home - based women worker spen t too much time in completing one suit but earned very meagre amount. While the wholesaler earned more or less the same amount selling the products in market. Sometimes, even the middle man, retailer and women worker/producer earned more or less the same amount. This is mostly due to ineffective role of the concerned organizations, disjoint marketing chain, poor awareness at women workers’ end where mostly women engaged in improving the production but earned very less wages. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-12-12 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kyoko Kusakabe; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Doneys, Philippe;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2012 |