Empowering women through homestead agricultural mechanization: Stories of transformation from Bangladesh

Abstract

In northern Bangladesh, where agriculture has long been a way of life, women are now emerging as entrepreneurs, transforming not just their livelihoods but the dynamics of their communities. With support from the CGIAR Research Initiative on Mixed Farming Systems, small agricultural machinery like fodder choppers, mini rice husking mills, and oil extractors are changing these women's lives.

Agricultural operations are typically labor-intensive and have historically been male-dominated. While women contribute to agriculture, their roles have often been confined to household tasks. The introduction of small agricultural machinery can empower women to take on more active roles in farming. This shift not only increases their involvement in agricultural operations but also opens up new opportunities for income generation for the family.

This is the story of three women from villages in Nilphamari District in Bangladesh—Ratna Begum, Aruna Rani Roy, and Layla Begum—whose lives have been transformed with the involvement of homestead-based small agricultural machinery.