Deep Roots

[

] 169

Abha Singh, a gender specialist who worked under the

mentoring wing of Dr Thelma Paris of the International

Rice Research Institute (IRRI), commented that, as more

men migrate from rural areas to the cities to look for

“greener pastures,” women then take on the farming activi-

ties that the men leave behind. Studies show that women,

especially those from the lower caste, contribute 60-80 per

cent of the labour required in rice farming, including post-

harvest activities.

According to Dr Paris, migration of men farmers and

farm labourers from rural areas to cities is a trend that will

continue in the near future. As a result, more women are

left behind to manage their farms and households, and care

for their young family members and the elderly. This trans-

formation in agriculture has changed the potential roles of

women farmers. They are now taking the reins in leading a

farming household.

Knowing the crucial role of women and the amount of their

contribution in rice farming, IRRI has been working closely

with its national agricultural research and extension system

partners in order to assist women farmers in getting access to

technologies they need. In fact, it has been a standard operat-

ing procedure of IRRI to invite more women farmers (at least

30 per cent are women) into participatory varietal selections in

stress-prone rice areas or areas that are prone to climate-related

problems such as floods, drought and salinity. They are given

access to seeds of climate-smart rice through self-help groups.

Self-help groups are organized by women or men as village-

based financial intermediary committees mostly with 10-20

members for on- and off-farm income-generating activities.

Smallholder farming families in developing countries,

especially in rain-fed areas, are the most vulnerable to

climate change. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, where rice produc-

tion is predominantly rain-fed, growing rice is so risky that

farming families take a gamble every cropping season and

can only hope for the best. They have no choice but to place

their bet. When luck is on their side, during a year with

ample rainfall, the farmers are blessed with enough food

to sustain their families till the next cropping season. But

when drought strikes, the price of crop failure is losing all

their investments – labour, seed and inputs – and long, lean,

hungry months ahead.

“The eastern part of India was considered a ‘hunger belt’

before IRRI started working on the dissemination of stress-

tolerant rice varieties in 2008 through the Stress-Tolerant

Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project,” said

Umesh Singh, STRASA’s regional coordinator. “The project

aims to develop rice varieties that can withstand flood,

drought and salinity, among other stresses brought about

by climate change.”

STRASA researchers evaluate these varieties, including

participatory varietal selection involving farmers. Gender

is integrated into most activities under STRASA and the

Global Rice Science Partnership, the Consultative Group

on International Agricultural Research programme on rice,

which aim to give women farmers input into the selection of

improved rice varieties that are approved for release.

Women farmers such as Mrs Devi and her family are

benefiting greatly from STRASA. Her concrete house has

sturdy concrete posts; its blue paint is faded just slightly,

Sahbhagi dhan is a short-duration crop, enabling farmers to plant three crops in a year including vegetables such as peas and onions as well as rice

Image: IRRI

eep

oots