Gender Roles in Agriculture: The Case of Afghanistan

Abstract

Technological interventions aiming to improve livelihoods that bring
gender equity can become successful only when the prevailing gender
roles in society and access to different livelihood opportunities are fully
understood. This article analyses gender roles in agriculture in the conservative
patriarchal society of Afghanistan. Rapid appraisal was conducted
through focus group interviews, participatory resource mapping,
and so on, in seven villages each from Nangarhar and Baghlan provinces
of Afghanistan. Educated women coordinators, facilitators and activists
and well established womens’ groups were used to reach and target
key women informants as they are not allowed to interact directly with
male researchers. Their participation was more in livestock related
activities. The study indicated that women’s involvement was less than
men’s in both livestock and crop related activities. Age, social stigmas,
poverty and shortage of labour influence the gender division of labour,
decision-making ability and participation in Afghanistan’s farm and
non-farm activities. This indicates that any agricultural development
programme intending to involve women will be effective only if it has a
large component of livestock related activities