Invisible farmers

Women are the backbone of Pakistan’s agricultural sector, constituting a significant portion of the labour force. Despite their indispensable role, they face persistent challenges, including constrained ownership of resources, wage disparities, minimal recognition of their contributions, and lack of maternity benefits. These inequities are deeply rooted in cultural norms and systemic biases, and they persist despite policies aimed at promoting gender equity. The National Food Security Policy recognises the importance of equitable resource distribution but stops short of recognising the role of women in agriculture and food security.

Bridging this gap is not just a matter of fairness; it is essential for sustainable development and food security. Likewise, the said policy acknowledges the need to empower marginalised groups, yet it lacks concrete provisions to address the specific challenges faced by women in agriculture. This disconnect highlights a broader issue: the gap between policy design and its applicability to the realities of rural women’s lives. Pakistan’s agricultural sector employs nearly 37 per cent of the country’s total labour force, with women making up a large share. These women engage in various labour-intensive tasks such as planting, weeding, harvesting, and livestock management. However, their work is often classified as informal or unpaid family labour, leaving them outside the purview of labour laws and protections.

In rural areas, where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood, cultural norms often dictate that women’s labour is less valuable than men’s. This is evident in the wage disparity between male and female agricultural workers. Women frequently earn less than half of what their male counterparts are paid for the same tasks. These wage gaps are further exacerbated by limited access to financial resources, land ownership, and decision-making roles. Addressing these inequalities requires more than just legislative reforms; it demands a cultural shift and systemic changes that recognise and value women’s contributions to agriculture.

The informal status denies them fair wages and excludes them from benefits like maternity leave, healthcare, and workplace safety. The invisibility of their labour perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality, affecting their families and communities. Recent legislation, such as the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act of 2023, marks a step forward in ensuring paid maternity leave for women in the public and private sectors. While progressive in its intent, this law fails to account for women in the informal agricultural workforce, who remain unprotected.

The challenges faced by women in agriculture are not isolated but part of a larger issue of gender disparity in food security and nutrition. Women and girls in Pakistan suffer disproportionately from malnutrition due to inequitable access to food. This is particularly concerning in a country where food security is already fragile. National policies, such as the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy, aim to address these disparities by focusing on adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. However, their success depends on effective implementation and integration with other policies targeting agricultural and rural development.

Women’s empowerment in agriculture has the potential to yield significant benefits, not just for gender equity but also for the overall productivity and sustainability of the sector. Studies have shown that when women are given equal access to resources such as credit, training, and technology, agricultural productivity can increase by up to 30 per cent. Despite this evidence, Pakistan’s public sector investments in agricultural research and development rarely prioritise gender-responsive approaches. Regional examples, such as India’s extensive agricultural R&D programmes and Bangladesh’s efforts in empowering women through microcredit, offer valuable lessons. These initiatives demonstrate that integrating women into the research and development process can lead to innovations that address their specific needs and challenges. Water management is another critical area where gender-sensitive policies could make a significant impact. Women are often responsible for fetching water for household and agricultural use, yet they are rarely included in decision-making processes related to water resource management. Pakistan faces acute water challenges, with inefficiencies in irrigation and over-extraction of groundwater threatening the sustainability of its agricultural sector. While programmes like the National Program for Improvement of Watercourses aim to reduce water losses, they do not explicitly address how these interventions affect women’s workload or access to water. Incorporating a gender perspective into water management policies could improve their effectiveness and equity.

The potential of hill torrents, with disastrous consequences in Pakistan, offers a unique opportunity to enhance agricultural productivity. If harnessed effectively, these torrents could irrigate millions of hectares of land, benefiting rural communities. However, the planning and execution of projects to utilise this resource often overlook the gender dimension. Women, who are key stakeholders in agriculture, are rarely consulted in the design and implementation of such projects. Including their perspectives could lead to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes.

The intersection of climate change and agriculture further highlights the need for gender-sensitive policies. Women in rural areas are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their reliance on natural resources and limited adaptive capacity. Initiatives such as Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) can offer solutions by promoting practices that enhance productivity and resilience. However, these initiatives must explicitly target women, ensuring they have access to training, technology, and financial resources. Without such targeted efforts, the benefits of CSA may bypass the very individuals who are most vulnerable to climate impacts.

Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that integrates gender equity into all aspects of agricultural and rural development. Policies must move beyond generic statements of intent and include specific, actionable measures to support women. For instance, agricultural extension services should be tailored to the needs of female farmers, providing them with training and resources to improve their productivity. Similarly, financial products such as microcredit and crop insurance should be designed to accommodate the unique constraints faced by women in rural areas. Public awareness campaigns and community engagement are also crucial for changing societal attitudes toward women’s roles in agriculture. Programs that highlight the economic and social contributions of women can challenge stereotypes and promote their recognition as equal partners in development. Collaboration with local organisations and international agencies can further amplify these efforts, bringing in resources and expertise to drive change. By addressing the unique challenges faced by women in agriculture, Pakistan can not only enhance its food security but also pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

The writer is a gender and climate specialist at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad. She can be reached at: Sadiasatti@sdpi.org