Gender in agricultural planning processes of South Asian governments: Attention or Neglect? Ranjani.K.Murthy, 2015 Consultant: Gender, Equity and Development UN Women Book Release –Gender and Evaluation Evaluation Conclave, 2015 Kathmandu, Nepal

Objective Agric/allied plans IFAD CEDAW Beijing

Beijing, CEDAW and IFAD commitments/policies on gender and agriculture Rural women's equal rights to: land/land reform measures finance extension technologies benefits markets Decision making in household, collective institutions and networks. Reduction in drudgery of women's work. Counting of women’s unpaid work in agriculture Collective rights *WATSAN, sharing, agriculture drudgery

What was reviewed? Gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) in agricultural plans of 8 South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)

Main Findings The objectives of 1 out of 8 agri. plans refer to GEWE The context section of 5/ 8 agriculture plans refer to women in agriculture; but only 2 on GEWE Male migration recognised; but not conversion of agriculture land The strategies of 6/8 refer to some gender issues- but only 2 comprehensively - assets/resources and decision making No reference to reducing drudgery or recognition of unpaid work Only 1 of 8 agri plans has separate programme line for women Bangladesh and India

Why? Involvement of Ministry of Women in agricultural planning not reported No engagement of women farmers and women’s NGOs (agri.) reported No mention of gender strategy within agric. plan Only 2 of 8 plans refer to gender structures within agriculture departments Only 2 of 8 have a strategy for increasing proportion of women staff; and strengthening safety Only 1 of 8 mentions sex disaggregated data Women’s presence in agriculture universities/research *Bhutan and India -Gender Resource Center or Directorate for Women in Agriculture -gender structure. Bangladesh and bhutan staff. Bhutan- mis

Does it matter? Efficiency Welfare Women’s rights

Ways forward CEDAW, Beijing, SDGs and IFAD gender policy integrate into agriculture planning Civil society monitoring of CEDAW Concluding 0bservations on agriculture Address gaps and replicate good practices Look at the larger political economy- land to agriculture, agriculture growth, sustainabillity

Good practices Apart from inheritance and rights of land acquired during marriage Rights of women from landless families to homesteads and land from land reforms Collective rights to land and commons, right to extension, credit, crop insurance, IT and markets Equal voice in agri. decision making forums, Access to drudgery reduction tools and technologies; occupational health and engage with men Counting women’s unpaid work in agriculture Women in producer companies/coops and value chains Women in agricultural education