Impacts of economic and agricultural policies on women in agriculture : four case studies

To illustrate the importance of these differences, this report uses a rapid appraisal technique called "policy inventory" to develop case studies of the impact of agricultural and economic policy interventions (direct actions rather than general policy statements) on rural women in Guatemala, Malawi, Thailand, and the Yemen Arab Republic. Each study provides a country description, including recent economic trends, and identifies agricultural inputs, outputs, and institutions. Major findings include the following. (1) Differential policy impacts are most evident in situations where women derive separate income from their own plots and enterprises, as in many African countries. (2) The policies with the greatest impact on women in the agricultural sector are generally not those affecting agriculture, but instead those that affect small enterprise, particularly marketing activities. (3) In general, women have benefited from the expansion of private sector agricultural services such as credit and marketing. (4) Women have generally not been helped by government land titling programs. In conclusion, the report stresses the need for policymakers to gain a better understanding of the role of rural women, their contribution to rural income and production, and the effect of government actions on their well-being.