Women’s empowerment and farmland allocations in Bangladesh: evidence of a possible pathway to crop diversification

AbstractClimate change will likely affect several of the dimensions that determine people’s food security status in Bangladesh, from crop production to the availability and accessibility of food products. Crop diversification is a form of adaptation to climate change that reduces exposure to climate-related risks and has also been shown to increase diet diversity, reduce micronutrient deficiencies, and positively affect agro-ecological systems. Despite these benefits, the level of crop diversification in Bangladesh remains extremely low, requiring an examination of the factors that support uptake of this practice. This paper explores whether women’s empowerment, measured using the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), leads to increased diversification in the use of farmland. Our results reveal that some aspects of women’s empowerment in agriculture, but not all, lead to more diversification and to a transition from cereal production to other crops like vegetables and fruits. These findings suggest a possible pathway for gender-sensitive interventions that promote crop diversity as a risk management tool and as a way to improve the availability of nutritious crops.

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Women’s empowerment and crop diversification in Bangladesh: A possible pathway to climate change adaptation and better nutrition

10.2499/p15738coll2.133306 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Women's Empowerment ◽

Women’S Empowerment ◽

Crop Diversification

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Intra-seasonal climate variability and crop diversification strategies in the Peruvian Andes: A word of caution on the sustainability of adaptation to climate change

World Development ◽

10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104740 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 127 ◽

pp. 104740 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carmen Ponce

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Variability ◽

Crop Diversification ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Peruvian Andes ◽

Seasonal Climate ◽

Diversification Strategies

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Combined interventions Targeting Agriculture, Gender and Nutrition Improve Agriculture Production and Diet Diversity More Than Individual interventions in Bangladesh

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa053_003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 798-798

Author(s):

Akhter Ahmed ◽

John Hoddinott ◽

Agnes Quisumbing ◽

Purnima Menon ◽

Julie Ghostlaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Production ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Women's Empowerment ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Women’S Empowerment ◽

Diet Diversity ◽

Training Models ◽

Nutrition Training ◽

And Gender

Abstract Objectives Secondary data analysis in Bangladesh has found associations across agricultural production, women's empowerment, and nutrition outcomes. Less is known, though, about whether combining interventions across these areas is more effective than isolated interventions to improve agricultural diversity, diet diversity, and women's empowerment in Bangladesh. Methods The Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages study used a cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate impacts of agriculture, nutrition, and/or gender interventions on food production, diets, and empowerment. 160 blocks were randomized to control and 5 training models: (T1) nutrition by government agriculture extension agents (AEAs); (T2) nutrition by community nutrition workers; (T3) agriculture on production of nutrient-rich foods by AEAs; (T4) agriculture and nutrition by AEAs; and (T5) agriculture and nutrition by AEAs, and gender sensitization. Trainings targeted men and women together. 4000 farm households with a child under age 2 at baseline were surveyed 2 years apart. Impact estimates used endline data, adjusting for baseline characteristics using analysis of covariance. Results All treatments significantly improved agriculture production knowledge and adoption of improved production practices, more so in arms with agriculture training (T3, T4, T5), and for women than men. All treatments significantly improved nutrition knowledge, more so in arms with nutrition training, and for women than men. Household diet quality and child diet diversity significantly improved only in T2 and T4. Women's empowerment significantly improved in all treatments, and men's gender attitudes improved in T1, T4, T5, more so in the gender arm (T5). No impacts were expected or found on child anthropometry. Conclusions Joint interventions had larger impacts than isolated ones, suggesting synergies across agriculture, nutrition, and gender. Impact on food and nutrition outcomes (food production or nutrition practices) required agriculture and/or nutrition training. Funding Sources USAID; the Gender, Agriculture, and Assets Project, Phase 2, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and the CGIAR Research Programs on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health and Policies, Institutions, and Markets.

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Factors Affecting Agriculture in Response to Climate Change in Bangladesh

10.20944/preprints201904.0171.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Abul Khayer ◽

Fatiha Sultana Eti ◽

Md. Mohibul Hasan ◽

Md. Khairul Bashar Biplob ◽

Rabiul Haq Chowdhury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Crop Production ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

The Other ◽

Green Economy ◽

Crop Diversification ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Lack Of Information

An opinion dependent cross sectional survey was conducted among charland peoples of Noakhali, Bangladesh with a view to identify the factors that affect green economy. Nijhumdwip Island and Tamaruddi union are highly affected by cyclone and soil salinity. Unpredictable rainfall is the most acute in Nijhumdwip. Lack of information the main problem in Nijhumdwip Island. Farmers are found less interest in integrated farming and crop diversification. Few farmers from Sonadia Union are involved in homestead gardening. Regression analysis have shown a negative relationship (p<0.001) between education of stockholders and decrease of crop production. On the other hand education level of stockholders is to be found positively (p<0.05) varied with decrease of food insecurity. So it can be said that educated farmers are more adaptive against climate change.

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Effect of Institutional and Farmer Based Climate Change Adaptation Measures on Crop Production in Mavuria Ward, Mbeere South Sub-county, Embu County, Kenya

International Journal of Environment and Climate Change ◽

10.9734/ijecc/2020/v10i1230294 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 171-182

Author(s):

Samuel K. Nyaga ◽

Geofrey K. Gathungu ◽

Justin Nyaga ◽

Jafford R. Njeru

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Crop Production ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Primary Data ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Adaptation Mechanisms

Africa is under pressure from climate stresses and is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In Kenya, agriculture is the backbone of the economy making it an important contributor to food security of rural households. Currently crop productivity is being affected by continued climate variations and decline in soil fertility. Adaptation to climate change requires to be given high and urgent priority for sustainable crop production. A study was conducted in Mavuria ward, Mbeere South Sub-County, Embu County to evaluate the effects of climate change adaptation on crop production. The study used both descriptive and experimental research designs. The primary data on adaptation measures was collected from farmers and institutions using questionnaires. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics were used to organize the climate data and that of the respondents into frequencies. Further, a Pearson correlation test was done to determine the relationship between farmer and institutional based mechanisms on adaptation to climate change at α=0.05. The main adaptation mechanisms identified were soil fertility improvement, soil and water conservation, early planting, pest and disease control, provision of certified seeds, and awareness creation. In view of these findings, the study recommends continuous implementation of these measures that can help strengthen farmers and institutional adaptation mechanisms towards climate change for improved crop production.

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