Water, Gender and Farming

Women are key collectors of water, and food for their families. However, women face great gender inequality – they lack massive recognition for their work on the land. When it comes to the water for irrigation to use in farming, men are far more likely to receive a plot of their choosing. Women normally have far less say in the matter and will find it difficult to access water.

In order to correct this problem, it is important that we increase the participation of women in water and irrigation policies, be it on their own or with their husbands. However, there are many barriers to entry for women trying to gain a foothold in irrigation management. This can be due to cultural norms, where the idea of public decision making and attending open meetings are more attributed to men than to women. (Zwarteveen 1997).

A case study conducted by Caretta (2015) underlines the difference that good access to irrigation can make to women.  Caretta investigates two villages where women’s roles are believed to be that of a reproductive nature, and they play second fiddle to the men in the community. However, a recent change in the nature of farming in one of the villages, Sibou, has lead to women being about to modify their stance in society. This has allowed for women to both work more and make more decisions.

Caretta, M. (2015) ‘Hydropatriarchies and landesque capital: a local gender contract analysis of two smallholder irrigation systems in East Africa’, The Geographical Journal, 181, 4, 388-400.

Zwarteveen, M. (1997) ‘Water: From Basic Need to Commodity: A Discussion on Gender and Water Rights in the Context of Irrigation’, World Development, 25, 8, 1335-1349.