Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan
Background: Gender disparities in agricultural water management persist globally, yet context-specific evidence from Pakistan remains limited. This study investigates the systemic barriers to gender equity in water governance in District Okara, Punjab, which is a critical agricultural region due to...
| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
CAB International
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178434 |
| _version_ | 1855530815376588800 |
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| author | Waqar, Kanwal Hafeez, Mohsin |
| author_browse | Hafeez, Mohsin Waqar, Kanwal |
| author_facet | Waqar, Kanwal Hafeez, Mohsin |
| author_sort | Waqar, Kanwal |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Background: Gender disparities in agricultural water management persist globally, yet context-specific evidence from Pakistan remains limited. This study investigates the systemic barriers to gender equity in water governance in District Okara, Punjab, which is a critical agricultural region due to its highly fertile land, extensive canal irrigation system, and significant production of key crops and livestock. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating: (i) a quantitative survey of 402 households (ii) a qualitative gender analysis of national and provincial water policies, and (iii) stakeholder consultations with government departments and Water User Associations (WUAs). Results: The findings reveal a profound disconnect between women’s labor and their decision-making power. Despite contributing 3–4h of daily agricultural labor, only 3% women involved in of on-farm decisions. Policy analysis shows the National Water Policy 2018, and provincial water acts i.e, Punjab Water Act 2019 & KP Water Act 2020 are gender-blind. Institutional barriers are evident, with women in WUAs often serving as “silent observers” and 92% of women requesting flexible training formats to overcome time poverty, exemplified by their 15–30 min daily water collection burden. Conclusion: Gender-blind policies, socio-cultural norms, and institutional constraints collectively sustain women’s exclusion from water governance. Transformative change requires enforceable gender quotas in WUAs, awareness and literacy programs and gender-responsive trainings targeting institutions and WUAs. These interventions are essential for advancing inclusive, SDG-aligned water management in Pakistan and comparable contexts, ensuring equitable access, resilience, and sustainable resource use. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace178434 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | CAB International |
| publisherStr | CAB International |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1784342025-12-16T10:41:22Z Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan Waqar, Kanwal Hafeez, Mohsin gender equity women's participation water governance case studies water user associations Background: Gender disparities in agricultural water management persist globally, yet context-specific evidence from Pakistan remains limited. This study investigates the systemic barriers to gender equity in water governance in District Okara, Punjab, which is a critical agricultural region due to its highly fertile land, extensive canal irrigation system, and significant production of key crops and livestock. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating: (i) a quantitative survey of 402 households (ii) a qualitative gender analysis of national and provincial water policies, and (iii) stakeholder consultations with government departments and Water User Associations (WUAs). Results: The findings reveal a profound disconnect between women’s labor and their decision-making power. Despite contributing 3–4h of daily agricultural labor, only 3% women involved in of on-farm decisions. Policy analysis shows the National Water Policy 2018, and provincial water acts i.e, Punjab Water Act 2019 & KP Water Act 2020 are gender-blind. Institutional barriers are evident, with women in WUAs often serving as “silent observers” and 92% of women requesting flexible training formats to overcome time poverty, exemplified by their 15–30 min daily water collection burden. Conclusion: Gender-blind policies, socio-cultural norms, and institutional constraints collectively sustain women’s exclusion from water governance. Transformative change requires enforceable gender quotas in WUAs, awareness and literacy programs and gender-responsive trainings targeting institutions and WUAs. These interventions are essential for advancing inclusive, SDG-aligned water management in Pakistan and comparable contexts, ensuring equitable access, resilience, and sustainable resource use. 2025-12-01 2025-12-02T07:59:10Z 2025-12-02T07:59:10Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178434 en Open Access CAB International Waqar, K.; Hafeez, M. 2025. Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience 6(1):0091. doi: https://doi.org/10.1079/ab.2025.0091 |
| spellingShingle | gender equity women's participation water governance case studies water user associations Waqar, Kanwal Hafeez, Mohsin Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan |
| title | Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan |
| title_full | Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan |
| title_short | Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan |
| title_sort | gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance a case study in district okara pakistan |
| topic | gender equity women's participation water governance case studies water user associations |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178434 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT waqarkanwal genderedexclusioninagriculturalwatergovernanceacasestudyindistrictokarapakistan AT hafeezmohsin genderedexclusioninagriculturalwatergovernanceacasestudyindistrictokarapakistan |