To explore gender dynamics in emerging markets for agricultural machinery service-provision in Bangladesh, the Gender, Climate Change, and Nutrition Integration Initiative (GCAN), the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), and CSISA–Mechanization and Irrigation (CSISA-MI) partnered to conduct qualitative research in Faridpur and Jhenaidah districts in October–December 2017. They interviewed husband and wife machine service providers (machine owners who charge affordable fees for machinery services to other farmers) (19 women, 18 men), men and women who hire these machines for their farms (26 women, 17 men), women farmers in non-mechanized farming households (12), and CSISA staff and community leaders (2 women, 7 men). Women in Bangladesh face cultural constraints to participating in agricultural work in the field as well as working outside the home. This note provides insights into why female participation remains low in both reaper service business ownership and in hiring these services, and how development initiatives can support women to take advantage of the opportunities offered by mechanization in agriculture.
Authors: Sophie Theis, Nasrin Sultana and Timothy J. Krupnik
Source: Feed the Future Program
