Participation of women in harvesting and post harvest operations. 0. 20. 40. 60. 80. 100. Crop cutting collection Threshing. W innowing drying and cleaning.
Gender issues in Horticulture
P. C. Tripathi Principal Scientist (Horticulture) NRC Women in Agriculture Bhubaneswar-751003
Introduction • Horticulture is the largest sector in agriculture contributing 29 % of Agriculture GDP and 54 % of the total agricultural export. • The area under horticultural crops has increased rapidly during last two decades.
Area (mha)/ % of GCA
Area under horticultural crops 20 15 Area m ha
10
%
5 0 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 Year
Area and production of fruits and vegetables
Area(Lakh ha)/ production( Lakh t)
1200 1000 800 600
Area under fruits( lakh ha)
400 Production(lakh t) 200 0 1991
2001
Year
2004
Area under vegetables(lakh ha) Production(lakh t)
• Around 85 percent of the total female labourers are employed in agriculture sector in rural India. • Women play an active role and extensive involvement in horticulture.
Year
20
20
20
25
12
*
*
*
01
91
81
71
61
51
07
20
19
19
19
19
19
Women labourers(%)
Demography of women labourers
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Gender Gender can be defined as the set of characteristics, roles and behaviour patterns that distinguish women from men which are constructed not biologically but socially and culturally. Gender characteristics are socially constructed, a product of nurturing, conditioning, and socio-cultural norms and expectations. These characteristics change over time and from one culture to another.
Gender issues Gender issues are the specific consequences of the inequality between women and men in term of benefits and responsibilities.
Gender mainstreaming Gender mainstreaming is an integrated strategy, which implies that gender issues are addressed within the existing development policy, strategies and priorities. It also implies transformation of the existing development agenda using a gendered perspective.
Participation of women in Horticulture
• Women are involved in most of the operations of production and post harvest management. • Women participation in some of the operations such as weeding, seed cleaning, seed storage is more than 70 percent. • Women participation varies from crop to crop, region, culture, caste etc.
Participation of women in Land preparation activities 100
percent
80 60 40 20 0 Stubble collection
Land levevelling
Manure application
Land preparation activities
Cleaning of field boundaries
Participation of women in sowing operations 100
percent
80 60 40 20 0 seed cleaning
seed selction &treatment sowing operations
sowing
Activities ap pl ica t
g
io n
h
on
atc
ati
di n
w
pp lic
cr op
er a
pe sti cid es
fe rti liz
we e
io n
in g
ga t
Th in
Ir r i
percent
Women participation in Intercultural operations
100
80
60
40
20
0
Participation of women in harvesting and post harvest operations
80 60 40 20 ad in g gr
sto ra ge
ni ng an d
cle a
in g dr
yi ng
W in no w
in g es h Th r
tio n co lle c
cu tti ng
0 Cr op
percent
100
activities
Activities
Pl an t
pr ot ec tio n
g
ns
er at io
g
la nt in
ar ve st in
op
H
g
la nt in
st p
po
pr ep ar at io n
Tr an sp
Fi el d
Percent participation
Participation of farm women in potato and cabbage cultivation
100
80
60
40
20
0
Participation of women in harvesting and post harvest operations
80 60 40 20 ad in g gr
sto ra ge
ni ng an d
cle a
in g dr
yi ng
W in no w
in g es h Th r
tio n co lle c
cu tti ng
0 Cr op
percent
100
activities
Operations
neck cutting and grading
Harvesting,
Spraying of fungicide/insecticide
Fertilizer application
Weeding
Irrigation
Transplanting
Uprooting of seedling
Sowing of seed
Nursery raising
Preparation of beds
Collection of stubbles
Spreading of FYM
% Participation
Participation of women in various production activities in onion
100
80
60
40
20
0
ea ve s
ra di ng
sh ed
Pa ck in g R eg ra di ng So rti ng
G
to
ra di ng So rti ng
G
of l
ng
ut ti n g
Tr an sp or ti
C
% participation
Participation of women in different post harvest operations of onion
100 80 60 40 20 0
Operations
Participation(%) of men and women production of seed spices Operations
Man
Woman
Land preparation
100
Nil
Seed preparation for sowing
8
92
Raising nursery & transplanting
25
75
Direct sowing
92
8
Irrigation
83
17
Applying FYM
75
25
Fertilizer application
83
17
Weeding
17
83
Plant protection
83
17
Harvesting
42
58
Threshing
58
42
Bagging/storing of grain
17
83
Marketing of produce
92
8
Participation(%) of men and women in onion seed production activities Operations
Man
Woman
Spreading of farm yard manure
50
50
Collection of stubbles
20
80
Mending ridges and preparation of bed
80
20
Selection, cutting and planting of seed bulbs
20
80
Earthing
80
20
Irrigation
90
10
Weeding
5.0
95.0
Fertilizer application
10
90
Spraying of fungicide/insecticide etc.
90
10
Harvesting of umbels
10
90
Threshing of umbels
40
60
Participation(%) of man & women in garlic production activities Operations
Man
Woman
Preparation of cloves
6.7
93.3
Spreading of farm yard manure
50
50
Collection of stubbles
20
80
Preparation of beds
90
10
Planting
8.6
93.4
Irrigation
90
10
Weeding
7.7
92.3
Fertilizer application
25.0
75.0
Spraying of fungicide/insecticide etc.
90
10
Harvesting , making bundles, storage
10
90
Cutting of leaves, weighing, packing etc.
20
80
Stitching of bags and loading for marketing
75
25
Participation(ranking) of men and women in different farm operations in North east Operations
Man
Woman
Preparatory tillage
II
VII
Sowing of seeds
IV
IV
Using implements
VII
VIII
Applying manure/fertilizer
VIII
XI
Weeding
VI
IX
Irrigation
V
X
Using plant protection measures
XI
XII
Harvesting
I
V
Seed storage
X
I
Marketing of produce
XI
II
Magnitude of women participation(%) in Temperate fruit cultivation Operations
Woman
Planting
61.4
Training and pruning
25.0
Post Training and pruning operations
88.6
Interculture
84.3
Plant protection
42.3
a) Physical and cultural control
45.0
b) Chemical control
31.0
Harvesting
70.7
Post harvesting handling
37.0
Fruit preservation
100.0
Issues in Horticultural crops •Traditionally women are expected to perform farm operation which involves manual, repetitive tasks- weeding, transplanting. Grading, harvesting etc. •Women under take multiple tasks at home, farm and community- food, fuel, fodder •Women lacks access to skills, trainings and information- e.g. Onion, Vegetables
• Women are discriminated in designing and testing technologies • Women get displaced from traditional employment opportunities when technology is introduced and men take over the task- fruit and vegetable grading • Wages- under paid and undervalued • Less access to resources-land, tools, market • Men are regarded as farmer not women
Opportunities for women in horticultural crops
Employment generation for women
Horticulture crops particularly vegetables, flower, green house cultivation are more labour intensive. They generate more employment than other crops. Fruits-860 days as compared to 143 days in cereals Vegetables-356 days flowers- 168 days
Average number of labor days per ha for production of cereals and vegetables in some Asian countries Country
Cereals
Vegetables
Bangladesh
133
338
Cambodia
81
437
India
80
124
Laos PDR
101
227
Philippines
93
185
Vietnam
216
468
More Income Crop
Cost -benefit ratio
wheat
0.91-1.30
Paddy
0.74-1.18
mango
4.60
Onion
2.48
tomato
2.01
Improved Nutrition
The women in rural areas are under nourished. Horticultural crops are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants. These play important role in eradication of deficiency diseases.
Post harvest handling and value addition The horticultural crops are more perishable in nature and value addition became necessary for reduction of losses and ensuring continuous supply. These crops offers opportunities for landless women and peri urban women.
Fuel wood supply A large number of rural women is devoted for the collection of fuel wood for cooking purpose. Horticultural crops particularly fruit crops are pruned at regular intervals to regulate fruiting .The pruned wood is good source of fuel for the rural women.
Fodder supply and bye product utilization The plant, leaves, and parts leaves,etc are good sources of fodder for animals. Apart from this these can be used for production of vermi- compost, NADEP compost. This may provide additional income
Women and Biodiversity conservation •Women in rural areas have more knowledge about useful plants .Their traditional knowledge and expertise in can be used for utilization and conservation of rapidly depleting biodiversity.
Horticultural Enterprises for Women 1.Quality planting material production
2.Value addition and post harvest handling of vegetables
3.Processing of fruits and vegetables
4. FLORICULTURE
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Grading and consumer packing of fruits and vegetables Minimum processing of vegetables Cultivation and preservation of Mushrooms, Preservation by osmotic dehydration, Preparation of fruit bar, Preparation of different varieties of pickles, chutneys etc. , Preparation of beverages. cashew nut processing Processing of Potatoes into Dehydrated/Dried Chips, fingers etc. Nursery production of fruit and vegetables Tissue culture of fruit plants Vermi compost making Flower arrangement Dehydration of flower Green house cultivation High value vegetable cultivation Organic cultivation of fruits and vegetable Processing of spices and medicinal plants
Conclusion • Women are playing major role in production and post harvest handling of horticulture crops and their role in continuously increasing. • Horticulture sector has tremendous opportunities for employment generation nutritional security for women and can contribute to over livelihood security of rural and peri urban areas. • There is need to identify the issues related to horticultural crops and technological requirement of women
Thank you
