Gender Mainstreaming Through Farmer Participation Leads to Improved Livelihoods in Salt-Affected Areas
Abstract
High salt stress is a major cause of low productivity across large rice-producing inland and coastal areas. Salt stress is most severe during the dry season. In the Ganges, the CPWF team developed participatory validation of newly bred salt-tolerant varieties in order to derive farmer-friendly crop and natural resource management options.
Participation of female family members is especially important because resource-poor families living in stress-prone rice environments in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, rely heavily on female family members for rice production and processing operations. Women demonstrated improved confidence in applying new knowledge on new rice varieties and improved skills in nutrient management, which enhanced their recognition as farmers. The value of engaging beneficiaries–particularly women–in important processes and decisions was demonstrated and realized by the researchers.
Citation
Anon. Gender Mainstreaming Through Farmer Participation Leads to Improved Livelihoods in Salt-Affected Areas. The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food, Sri Lanka (2013) 4 pp.
Links