Boost Women’s Economic Power Through Agricultural Cooperatives

Abstract

Traditionally, men have focused on, and controlled through cooperatives, cash crops and dairy farming, largely because these provide higher returns. Extension services are, in fact, often geared towards support for cash crop and dairy farming leaving out activities residing primarily within the ambit of women.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, even when women have full control of the farms, they produce 20-30 per cent less than those managed by men, a result of gender-specific obstacles.