women and agricultural technology use

INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Women and Agricultural Technology Use

James Warner, IFPRI-Addis Ababa([email protected])

Gender and Agriculture: Reviewing the evidence and the way forward

MoA WAD-ATA-IFPRIJune 17, 2016

Getfam Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

mailto:[email protected]


Presentation Outline

Introduction—The importance of Gender and Technology

Definition—Female Friendly Technology (FFT) 5 Issues of Gender Mainstreaming and

TechnologyFocus:

Issue 4-Total & Gendered Labor Allocation Specific Considerations for FFT Conclusion


Introduction—Gender and Technology

I. Consider the Context of Technology Adoption within the agricultural household

• Typical Analysis—With/Without technology what is effect on productivity/production

Deeper analysis—what are effects on:• Labor total allocation/re-distribution, drudgery• Resource allocation or re-allocation (inputs)• Output decisions (marketed/consumed)

II. Interventions fail because larger context is not considered


Definition of FFT(both physical and knowledge based)Optimal FFT should include all 5:

A. Increase productivityB. Reduce women’s labor responsibilities

• Reduce existing time constraints and/or drudgery

C. Increase their independence and controlD. Enhance decision making within their

householdE. Technology that is designed in consultation

with women


5 Issues of Context for Gender, Productivity and Technology

Agriculture Household Model*

Household Decision-Making*

Productivity, Access and Control*

Labor Allocation

Cultural Norms and Practices

Cooperative Conflict Model

Extension, Education

Complementary Resources—Credit, Inputs

Double Burden, “Women’s” Work

Oxen Use, Research Focus

Men Productivty

Women Productivity

Gender Aware and Transformative Technology Policy

=

=

=

=

=

Men’s Productivity Women’s Productivity

* = Greater emphasis for women in male-headed households


5 Issues of Gender and Technology

#1—Household Model—Cooperative conflict#2—Decision-making within the household#3—Access and Control#4—Labor allocation—Total & gendered #5—Cultural Norms and Practices


[7]

93 HHs in Amhara—2015 Survey

#4—Understanding Labor AssignmentsA—Total Labor Time—Women work more

Male Head Female Spouse Female Head0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

Series5OtherFood Prep/CookingFarming/Livestock


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93 Married HHs in Amhara

#4B—Total Labor Time—Men are farming and women are multi-tasking

5am

7am

9am

11am

13pm

15pm

17pm

19pm

21pm

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Women’s Day

Getting Wood/WaterDomestic WorkFood Prep/CookingFarmingEatingSleeping

5am

7am

9am

11am

13pm

15pm

17pm

19pm

21pm

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Men’s Day

LivestockSitting with FamilyFarmingEatingSleeping


[9]

#4C—Labor Crop Allocation—Gendered Assignments

Men do the land preparation and harvest/post-harvestWomen weeding and harvest/post-harvest

Black/Mixed Teff (in Amhara)


Specific Considerations FFT--Issue #4

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• Total Labor time larger for women Labor saving preferred over labor creating

• Consider the double burden Direct technology (farming) and/or indirect (e.g. improved

stove, water, electricity)

• Consider the specifics of the crop labor assignments Target weeding and harvest/post harvest (mechanization

for land preparation will almost exclusively benefit men)

• Consider wider cultural norms and practices Meeting women’s “practical needs” (working within

cultural norms) vs. “strategic needs” (re-shaping restrictive cultural needs as possible).


Specific Considerations FFT-Overview[11]

i. Improve current access to existing technology ii. Complementary Inputs—Credit is key iii. Consider Diverse Technologies for Diverse

Tasksiv. Labor saving not labor creating technologiesv. Increased education or knowledge based

technologiesvi. Extension Servicesvii. Emerging Issues


i. Improve existing access to technology[12]

Overall lack of existing farm implements for FHH (axe, sickles, hoes, plows, etc.).

2012 ATA baseline data


[13]

One of the biggest issues surrounding new technology adoption is the lack of complimentary input packages

• Complementary inputs include land/land security, labor, credit, fertilizers, improved seed, hand held implements or larger machinery combined with the primary technology intervention generally optimizes efficiency

• Access to credit--Research, covering 35 gender and technology research papers, concluded that access to technology was most hindered by a lack of credit.

in most countries the share of female smallholders who can access credit is 5–10 percentage points lower than for male smallholders

ii. Complementary Inputs-Credit is key


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Labor, time and energy-saving technologies for household tasks

• e.g. fuel-efficient stoves, backyard gardens, technological and institutional innovations for greater access to water and energy

e.g. improved charcoal stoves in Kenya reduced fuel wood collection by 10 hours a month.

iii. Consider diverse tech. for diverse tasks


[15]

Most technological innovations assume a relatively unlimited supply of labor or flexible family labor commitments that does not conform to women’s actual labor constraints.

Women are working near full capacity (more so than men) on their various tasks, to increase labor they must substitute from other activities. This creates the potential for welfare reducing impacts for women if they are required to assist in the new technology.

iv. Tech-Labor saving not labor creating


[16]

An extensive review of literature suggests that access to formal education and agricultural extension services are key determinants of the use and adoption of new technologies and improved farming practices

The issue of education and technology adoption for women has several components both longer-term structural changes (eg. formal education), medium-term (eg. adult education), and shorter term potential (eg. targeted single technology awareness campaigns).

v. education for knowledge based tech.


[17]

Typical of the assumptions provided by the traditional household model, extension agent’s knowledge is, at times, given to the male spouse with the implicit understanding that he should pass it on to his wife.

vi. Extension Services


[18]

Agricultural Transformation—What is the role of women in agr. as Ethiopia moves toward middle income status?

Mechanization—Ethiopia is beginning to see significant use of mechanized technologies (i.e. tractors). In some areas of Oromia region now becoming fairly common that farmers rent some form of mechanized services to plow, harvest or thresh their crops ( > 10%). Suitable for women?

Commercialization—Emphasis on increasing cash crops, market orientation. FHH are smaller and less commercially oriented.

New communication and information technologies—Mobile Phones, bio-metrics, Credit input voucher program--smart card stickers, etc.

vii-Emerging issues


[19]

Review the context before new technology implementation Men believe spouses are competent even if they don’t let them

have much say. Talk to women farmers Women are a heterogeneous group.

Women work full time on multiple activities-need labor-saving technology—Direct—agr. production, Indirect—HH work

Credit and other complementary inputs help tech adoption Consider segregated agriculture work (weeding, harvest/post-

harvest) high women labor contribution Knowledge Based Tech.—Extension, education, women’s

community groups

Conclusion


[20]

On the issue of women and technology access and use, this research advocates for moving from a gender blind perspective to a gender aware prospective for near-term policy formulation. This would represent a major step forward for Ethiopian technology policy.

Working towards a gender transformative

strategy (where institutions evolve and women are equal partners) is a goal that should be a longer-term objective for policymakers.

Conclusion (cont.)


Thank You!

women and agricultural technology use

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