Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective

This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding the specific gendered challenges faced by women smallholder farmers and the coping strategies deployed by them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates how power dynamics, gender norms and sociocultural practices at the household and commu...

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Main Authors: Das, Dipika, Poudel, Sanjeev, Dhakal, Purushottam, Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri
Format: Ponencia
Language:Inglés
Published: Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Nepal 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136938
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author Das, Dipika
Poudel, Sanjeev
Dhakal, Purushottam
Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri
author_browse Das, Dipika
Dhakal, Purushottam
Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri
Poudel, Sanjeev
author_facet Das, Dipika
Poudel, Sanjeev
Dhakal, Purushottam
Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri
author_sort Das, Dipika
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding the specific gendered challenges faced by women smallholder farmers and the coping strategies deployed by them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates how power dynamics, gender norms and sociocultural practices at the household and community levels affected the women farmers’ coping mechanisms from a feminist political ecology perspective. It reports a study carried out in the Terai region of Nepal using mixed methods that combined quantitative and qualitative tools such as household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The study found that mobility restrictions disproportionately affected women farmers due to prescribed gender roles, limiting their access to input supplies and hire of agricultural labor during the pandemic. Women farmers’ ability to sell their produce in the market severely impacted their livelihoods. Gender played a critical role, as women farmers rely more than men on their social networks for livelihood support. As these networks became disrupted during the crisis, perceptions of bargaining power between female and male farmers differed. The findings emphasize the need for gender-responsive interventions and institutional support during crises. The state and supporting organizations must prioritize meeting the gender-specific needs of smallholder farmers, ensuring accessibility of essential inputs and improving market infrastructure. Information- sharing mechanisms and secure financial provisions should be established to assist farmers, particularly women, in making informed decisions and mitigating economic shocks. This study contributes to evidence- based policies and programs that promote resilience, inclusion and sustainable agricultural development.
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publishDate 2023
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publisherStr Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Nepal
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spelling CGSpace1369382024-01-05T02:07:23Z Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective Das, Dipika Poudel, Sanjeev Dhakal, Purushottam Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri gender agriculture research covid-19 This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding the specific gendered challenges faced by women smallholder farmers and the coping strategies deployed by them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates how power dynamics, gender norms and sociocultural practices at the household and community levels affected the women farmers’ coping mechanisms from a feminist political ecology perspective. It reports a study carried out in the Terai region of Nepal using mixed methods that combined quantitative and qualitative tools such as household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The study found that mobility restrictions disproportionately affected women farmers due to prescribed gender roles, limiting their access to input supplies and hire of agricultural labor during the pandemic. Women farmers’ ability to sell their produce in the market severely impacted their livelihoods. Gender played a critical role, as women farmers rely more than men on their social networks for livelihood support. As these networks became disrupted during the crisis, perceptions of bargaining power between female and male farmers differed. The findings emphasize the need for gender-responsive interventions and institutional support during crises. The state and supporting organizations must prioritize meeting the gender-specific needs of smallholder farmers, ensuring accessibility of essential inputs and improving market infrastructure. Information- sharing mechanisms and secure financial provisions should be established to assist farmers, particularly women, in making informed decisions and mitigating economic shocks. This study contributes to evidence- based policies and programs that promote resilience, inclusion and sustainable agricultural development. 2023-10-09 2024-01-04T12:46:26Z 2024-01-04T12:46:26Z Presentation https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136938 en Open Access application/pdf Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Nepal Das, Dipika; Poudel, Sanjeev; Dhakal, Purushottam; Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri. 2023. Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective. Presentation. Presented at the CGIAR GENDER Conference 'From Research to Impact: Towards just and resilient agri-food systems', New Delhi, India, 9-12 October 2023. Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Nepal
spellingShingle gender
agriculture
research
covid-19
Das, Dipika
Poudel, Sanjeev
Dhakal, Purushottam
Dutta, Kuntala Lahiri
Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective
title Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective
title_full Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective
title_fullStr Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective
title_full_unstemmed Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective
title_short Gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal’s Tarai region: A feminist political ecology perspective
title_sort gendered challenges and coping strategies of women smallholder farmers during the covid 19 pandemic in nepal s tarai region a feminist political ecology perspective
topic gender
agriculture
research
covid-19
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/136938
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