Mainstreaming gender in agricultural extension :|banalysis of policy and implementation in Nepal | |
| Author | Adhikari, Saroj Kanta |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-05-01 |
| Subject(s) | Women in agriculture--Nepal Agricultural extension work--Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-05-01 |
| Abstract | Mainstreaming gender is a development issue everywhere in the world and this issue has received more attention after the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995. However, there still exists a gender imbalance in different aspects of the development efforts. This research has mainly focused on the gender mainstreaming practices in the field of agriculture, which is the backbone sector for economic development of Nepal. Despite the significant contribution of women in agriculture mainly as a labor force, they do not equally benefit and have no prominent role in decision-making. Lack of adequate gender sensitivity in the agriculture development strategy and implementation process and gaps with regards to equitable gender participation and to sharing benefits from development programs still remain wide at the program planning and implementation levels in Nepal. Women still have less access than men to property rights, information, credit and extension services, education and vocational training. This research mainly focused on an organizational assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to analyze the challenges of translating gender mainstreaming policy into practice in agricultural extension services. A serious gender imbalance was observed in the civil service of agriculture in Nepal. Proportionate imbalance between men and women workers was found in the Ministry and its wings. Weaker institutional arrangements in planning, monitoring and evaluation, unavailability of a gender desk, lack of positive discrimination for women staff and unavailability of gender disaggregated data were the main deadlock factors of gender mainstreaming in agriculture extension. Other challenges for gender mainstreaming in agricultural extension were few women extension workers in the field, lack of a clear program implementing guideline, lack of conceptual understanding among the workers, use of low inputs and traditional technology by the women farmers. At the field level, land rights were found as the most crucial element for decisions in farming. Women farmers have less access to extension services due to a lack of awareness, low level of education, economic dependency and socio-cultural constraints. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-05-01 |
| 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) | Kusakabe, Kyoko; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Earth, Barbara ;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Norway; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |