Women in Agriculture: Bridging the Gender Gap

Despite their enormous contributions to Pakistan's agricultural economy, women continue to have a major productivity disadvantage compared to men. This gender productivity gap in agriculture production is a severe problem that threatens millions of people's livelihoods while also affecting the country's entire agricultural output and economic development. Women account for around 49% of the agricultural labor force in Pakistan. However, their output lags much below that of men. According to a recent report by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, female farmers produce 20-30% less per acre than male farmers. In the cattle industry, where women are largely responsible for activities such as milking, feeding, and caring for animals, their productivity is similarly constrained, resulting in lower total yields and economic returns.

Barriers to Productivity Gap

Unequal access to resources is an important barrier to reducing the productivity gap between men and women in Pakistan's agriculture sector.

1. Lack of Land Ownership

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 5% of Pakistani women own land. This lack of land ownership greatly restricts their ability to invest in and benefit from agricultural activities. Land ownership is typically required to get a variety of agricultural resources, such as financing, extension services, and government subsidies. Without land ownership, women are excluded from decision-making processes and have little bargaining power in their households and communities, compounding gender inequities.

2. Less Access to Agricultural Inputs

Furthermore, less than 10% of women have access to basic agricultural inputs including fertilizer, high-quality seeds, and farming tools. Reducing the resource gap is crucial for empowering women farmers and raising overall agricultural productivity in Pakistan.

3. Lack of Education and Technology

In Pakistan, women face large educational inequalities and limited access to agricultural training compared to men. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), women account for barely 20% of agricultural training programs. This isolation has left the majority of female farmers with obsolete farming techniques and little awareness of new agricultural practices and technologies. As a result, women are less likely to use modern and efficient farming practices that would boost their output. This educational gap not only affects their ability to improve crop yields and animal management but also limits their ability to adapt to changing agricultural conditions and market demands, exacerbating gender-based productivity discrepancies in the industry.

4. Low Participation in Extension Services

Extension services, which are critical for disseminating agricultural methods and innovations, are overwhelmingly male-dominated in Pakistan, giving female farmers a major disadvantage. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, less than 15% of female farmers had gotten any type of extension service, compared to 45% of male farmers. This disparity means that women are significantly less likely to benefit from cutting-edge agricultural practices, crop management guidance, pest control tips, and other essential information. As a result, female farmers frequently rely on conventional, inefficient methods, which reduces productivity and reinforces the gender disparity in agricultural output. Addressing this mismatch is crucial to ensuring that all farmers, regardless of gender, can actively contribute to the agricultural sector's growth and sustainability.

5. Cultural Norms and Traditions

Cultural norms and cultural expectations in Pakistan significantly limit women's mobility and decision-making authority in agriculture, exacerbating the gender productivity gap. These cultural restraints frequently prohibit women from going to marketplaces to sell their produce, restricting their economic potential and market access. Furthermore, societal norms prevent women from joining agricultural cooperatives, which are essential for collective bargaining and resource sharing. According to a World Bank study, women are 50% less likely than males to utilize formal financial services, such as banking and credit, as a result of societal norms. This isolation from banking institutions reduces their ability to invest in agricultural inputs and technologies, worsening their low productivity and economic fragility.

6. Domestic Responsibilities

Women in Pakistan usually bear a dual workload of agricultural labor and heavy domestic responsibilities, which significantly decreases their farming output. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), women devote an average of 35 hours per week to domestic chores including cooking, cleaning, and childcare, in addition to their farming tasks. This massive workload leaves them with little time and energy to devote to agricultural activities, limiting their capacity to embrace new farming techniques, efficiently manage crops, and expand their agricultural companies. The double burden of managing both domestic and farming activities diminishes productivity while also contributing to physical and mental tiredness, exacerbating the gender productivity gap in agriculture.

Impact of Gender Inequality on Pakistan’s Agriculture

The gender productivity gap has major consequences for Pakistan's economy and food security. The World Bank estimates that reducing this gap could increase Pakistan's agricultural output by up to 25%. This growth would help not only the economy but also food security because women are more likely to spend their wages on their families' health and nutrition.

Ways to Reduce Gender Inequality in Pakistan’s Agriculture

To eliminate the gender productivity gap, focused actions are necessary. Ensuring that women have equal access to agricultural resources such as land, seeds, and tools is crucial to reducing Pakistan's gender production gap. To remedy to disparity, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should create specific programs to help women own and control these resources. Initiatives could include supporting female farmers with land grants, subsidizing agricultural inputs, and establishing female-focused agricultural cooperatives. Such programs not only benefit women monetarily, but they also improve agricultural output and food security. By investing in women's access to resources, these initiatives can help break down the obstacles that have long limited their potential, resulting in a more equal and prosperous agricultural sector.

Establishing and supporting agricultural education and training programs exclusively for women is crucial to reducing the gender productivity gap in Pakistan's agriculture. Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should conduct women-only training sessions that foster a supportive learning environment and focus on their specific needs and concerns. Furthermore, hiring female trainers can make these programs more accessible and relatable, resulting in better participation rates among women. Such personalized educational programs would provide female farmers with the most recent agricultural practices, increasing production and contributing to more sustainable farming communities. By empowering women through targeted education and training, these programs can help reduce the knowledge gap and promote more gender equality in agriculture.

Make extension services more inclusive, ensuring that female farmers get the help and information they need. Hiring more female extension personnel could greatly increase outreach. Improve women's access to banking and financial services, allowing them to invest in productivity-enhancing technology and practices. Microfinance organizations and banks should modify their products to meet the needs of women farmers. Implement and enforce rules that protect women's land rights and advance gender equality in agriculture. By empowering women farmers and ensuring equal access to resources, education, and assistance, Pakistan can unlock considerable agricultural potential, improve food security, and promote long-term economic growth.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writers are affiliated with the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, MNS University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan.

Related Stories