Consultant"s report : integrating women into the programs and projects of the Philippines Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The first step in this program will be a pilot effort in the farming systems (FS) component of the Rainfed Resources Development Project (RRDP) currently being implemented in the Bicol region. To assist the MAF in these endeavors, this report examines: (1) women"s overall role in agricultural production and in FS research; (2) the role of women in Filipino agricultural production systems and in agricultural decision making; (3) the access of Filipino women to development resources, information, and training; and (4) the components of the RRDP and in particular of its FS component, which currently excludes women as direct participants. Several reasons for this exclusion are noted - a lack of awareness of women"s agroeconomic importance, the project"s orientation towards male heads of households, the targeting of extension assistance to men, and a belief that benefits to male participants will "trickle down" to the entire farm household. The report concludes with recommendations for conducting research, training, and other activities aimed at integrating women into RRDP"s FS efforts and provides some insights into ways of implementing these recommendations.