How do gender norms influence adoption of and benefits from agricultural innovations in rural agricultural communities? Findings from research about barley and livestock in rural Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Most social science research on agricultural development in the past few decades emphasize that agricultural innovations (technological, social and financial) end up reinforcing existing socio-economic hierarchies. We conducted a study in three agricultural communities in dry rural Rajasthan, India, with differing economic and gender norms and dynamics to gain a more nuanced understanding of how the adoption of and benefits from typical agricultural innovations, barley and livestock, are affected by gender, class and age. To study these innovations, we used data from in-depth interviews with innovators and individuals who moved out of poverty, as well as focus groups with people from different social classes and generations. We argue that the capacity to adopt barley and livestock innovations was largely influenced by the nature of the innovation and local gender norms, rather than only class. Studies assessing and predicting impacts of innovations should pay attention to the nature of the innovation and local gender norms for more equitable impacts and adoption capacities